Economics & Sociology
ISSN: 2071-789X eISSN: 2306-3459 DOI: 10.14254/2071-789XIndex PUBMS: f5512f57-a601-11e7-8f0e-080027f4daa0

Title: | Potential Benefits of Cross-Border Health Care: the Case of Poland and Germany |
Issue: |
Vol. 9, No 3, 2016
Published date: 09-2016 (print) / 09-2016 (online) |
Journal: |
Economics & Sociology
ISSN: 2071-789X, eISSN: 2306-3459 |
Authors: |
Walter Ried
Paul Marschall |
Keywords: | Cross-border health care, Cross-border collaboration, Border regions, European Union |
DOI: | 10.14254/2071-789X.2016/9-3/2 |
Index PUBMS: | 96e2c9f3-020d-11e8-94c4-fa163e5d4f72 |
Language: | English |
Pages: | 14-27 (14) |
JEL classification: | H55, I11, I18 |
Website: | http://www.economics-sociology.eu/?424,en_potential-benefits-of-cross-border-health-care-the-case-of-poland-and-germany |
Licenses: |
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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.