Potential Benefits of Cross-Border Health Care: the Case of Poland and Germany
Vol. 9, No 3, 2016
|
Walter Ried,
University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany, walter.ried@unigreifswald. de
|
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF CROSSBORDER HEALTH CARE: THE CASE OF POLAND AND GERMANY |
|
Paul Marschall,
University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany, paul.marschall@unigreifswald. de
|
Abstract. Cross-border health care enhances the choices of patients but also involves both general and specific barriers which may explain why it currently occurs on a rather small scale. The paper investigates different pathways to cross-border health care, emphasizing barriers at the national level as a driving force. In general, a variety of benefits may accrue, relating to a higher quality of health care, better access or lower costs of provision. For border regions, these benefits will be particularly important. Based on empirical evidence, we argue that cross-border collaboration is the preferable option to improve the provision of health care to patients. For Poland and Germany, the potential benefits are indicated for each pathway, with a focus on the benefits derived from collaboration in border regions. |
|
Received: December, 2015 1st Revision: March, 2016 Accepted: June, 2016 |
|
|
DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2016/9-3/2 |
|
|
JEL Classification: H55, I11, I18 |
Keywords: Cross-border health care, Cross-border collaboration, Border regions, European Union. . |
