Despite the fact that cross-border health services only account for about 1% of healthcare provision, the Commission's communication focuses on patient mobility, cost refunds, etc. One should realise, however, that patients are not small-time traders and that patients do not seek healthcare abroad in order to generate savings but because such care is not available at home.
Til trods for at grænseoverskridende sundhedstjenester kun udgør ca. 1 % af sundhedstjenesterne, fokuseres der i Kommissionens meddelelse på patientmobilitet, tilbagebetaling af udgifter osv. Det er imidlertid vigtigt at erkende, at patienter ikke er handlende, og at patienter ikke søger sundhedstjenester i udlandet for at spare penge, men fordi disse tjenester ikke er til rådighed i hjemlandet.