The Health Care (Reimbursement of the Cost of EEA Services etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012
These Regulations amend the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 and the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 to give effect to the judgement of the European Court of Justice in Case C-372/04 The Queen, on the application of Yvonne Watts v Bedford Primary Care Trust and Secretary of State for Health ([2006]ECR I-4325). It held that the obligation under Article 49 of the EC Treaty to reimburse the cost of hospital treatment provided in another member State also applies to a tax-funded health service, such as in Northern Ireland, which provides such treatment free of charge. (Article 49, now numbered Article 56 under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, provides for the freedom to provide and receive services in another member State of the European Union.) These Regulations also cover non-hospital treatment.