The future of supervision on healthcare in Europe

Introduction In this thesis I will discuss the current forms of cooperation as they exist within the EU. Subsequently I will describe the possibilities for improvement of the cooperation. This is all done to present a notion of the supervision of healthcare in Europe and how the future of supervision can be shaped. Methods My thesis will report on qualitative, investigative research into the cooperation between different European healthcare supervisors. I intend to interview several members of EPSO in order to discuss how their respective inspections cooperate with inspections from other European countries and under which circumstances. I want to conduct at least six interviews, the data from these interviews can be supplemented with observations done during the EPSO conference and discussions with the attending members. The interviews will be conducted in a semi-structured way. All participants, both in the interviews and at the EPSO conference will be asked for permission to tape the interviews. Results In the current existing configurations it is possible to identify two trends. On the one hand we have the formal circuit, but also the informal circuit plays an important role, perhaps even more so than the formal arrangements. The most relevant formal objects to consider are two European Directives, namely Directive 2005/36/EC and Directive 2011/24/EU. These Directives cover two different aspects of the supervision of healthcare. But there is also the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to take into account, which has a section specifically concerning public health, namely article 168. Conclusions Characterising the current situation of supervision is that it is difficult to distinguish what is happening, from the outside. This is because most arrangements are made on the informal circuit. Therefore, I consider the current situation something of an intersection, where the formal and the informal methods meet. To answer my main question on the shape of future supervision on healthcare in Europe. I think that it is useful that both the informal and formal roads remain present and coexist. Furthermore, I think that with the increase of cross-border healthcare the need to establish guidelines on the recognition of rulings as well as on guaranteeing quality of care will continue to grow. In my opinion the cooperation through the national supervisors should expand to come to agreements on quality standards.