Research Article
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Avrupa Birliği Hukukunda Medikal Turizm ve ABAD Kararlarının Etkisi

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 2

Abstract

Avrupa Birliği (AB) üye devletleri, yüksek kalitede sağlık hizmetleri standartlarına sahip olmalarıyla bilinir. Bu nedenle, medikal turistler, çeşitli tıbbi işlemler için AB ülkelerini tercih etmektedir. Sadece uluslararası hastalar değil, aynı zamanda Birlik içinde de medikal hareketlilik görülmektedir. Ancak, AB içinde hasta hareketliliğine yönelik bu bölgesel yaklaşımın önündeki en büyük engel, AB üye devletlerinin sağlık hizmetlerine ilişkin sahip oldukları münhasır yetkidir. Avrupa Birliği Adalet Divanı (ABAD), bu engelin aşılmasında ve medikal turizmin gelişiminde önemli bir rol oynamıştır. Bu çalışma, ABAD’ın AB medikal turizmi üzerindeki etkisini anlamak amacıyla tasarlanmıştır. Bu bağlamda çalışma, ABAD’ın AB medikal turizmine olan etkisini incelemeye odaklanmıştır. Çalışma bulguları, ABAD’ın etkisinin, AB üye devletlerinin vatandaşlarının sınır ötesi sağlık hizmetlerine erişiminde ulusal engelleri aşmayı kolaylaştırmak olduğunu göstermektedir. ABAD’ın kararları, hastaların sınır ötesi sağlık hizmetlerine daha kolay erişmelerine ve medikal turizmin büyümesine katkıda bulunmalarına olanak tanımıştır. Sonuç olarak, ABAD’ın kararları, AB ülkeleri arasında sağlık hizmetlerinin serbest dolaşımını teşvik eden ve medikal turizmin gelişimine katkıda bulunan önemli bir faktördür.

References

  • Botterill, David; Mainil, Tomas; Pennings, Guido, “Introduction”, Ed. David Botterill, Guido Pennings, Tomas Mainil, Medical Tourism and Transnational Health Care, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013, pp. 1-9.  
  • Case 159/90, The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Ireland Ltd v. Stephen Grogan and others, ECR 4685, 1991.  
  • Case 158/96, Kohll v. Union des Caissesde Maladie, ECR I-01931, 1998.  
  • Case 157/99, B.S.M. Geraets-Smits v. Stichting Ziekenfonds VGZ & H.T.M. Peerbooms v. Stichting CZ Groep Zorgverzekeringen, ECR I-5509, 2001.
  • Cohen, I. Glenn, Patients with Passports: Medical Tourism, Law, and Ethics, Oxford University Press, New York, 2014.  
  • Connell, John, Medical Tourism, CAB International, 2011.  
  • Council of the European Union, Council Conclusions on Common Values and Principles in European Union Health Systems, OJ 146/01, 2006/C.
  • Council of the European Union, Directive on Cross-Border Health Care Adopted, Brussels, 7056/11, PRESSE 40, 28 February 2011.
  • Council Regulation, Regulation No. 3 of the Council on Social Security for Migrant Workers, OJ 30/561, 25-09-1958.
  • Council Regulation, Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/72 on the Application of Social Security Schemes to Employed Persons, to Self-Employed Persons and to Members of their Families Moving within the Community, OJ L149, 05-07-1971.
  • Curtin, Deidre M., “Case C-159/90, The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Ireland Ltd v. Grogan, Judgment of 4 October 1991”, Common Market Law Review, Volume 29, Issue 3, 1992, pp. 585-603.
  • Electronic Irish Statute Book, Irishstatutebook.ie, 2018, https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/ca/36/schedule/enacted/en/html#sched-part2 (14.10.2023).
  • Faraguna, Pietro, A Living Constitutional Identity: The Contribution of Non-Judicial Actors, New York University School of Law, New York, 2015.  
  • Frischhut, Markus, “Legal and Ethical Issues of Cross-Border Reproductive Care from an EU Perspective”, Ed. Melanie Kay Smith, László Puczkó, The Routledge Handbook of Health Tourism, Routledge, Abingdon and London, 2016, pp. 203-218.  
  • Glinos, Irene A.; Baeten, Rita; Maarse, Hans, “Purchasing Health Services Abroad: Practices of Cross-Border Contracting and Patient Mobility in Six European Countries”, Health Policy, Volume 95, Issues 2-3, 2010, pp. 103-112.
  • Hermans, Herbert E. G. M., “Cross-Border Health Care in the European Union: Recent Legal Implications of ‘Decker and Kohll’”, Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, Volume 6, Issues 4, 2000, pp. 431-439.
  • Hodzic, Sabina; Paleka, Hana, “Health Tourism in the European Union: Financial Effects and Future Prospects”, 9th International Conference of the School of Economics and Business Conference Proceedings, pp. 162-174. https://www.efsa.unsa.ba/ef/sites/default/files/ices2018_conference_proceedings_final_version_2.pdf (12.10.2018).  
  • Kleefield, Sharon, “Choosing the Good Hospital: Helping Medical Tourists Make Informed Decisions”, Ed. Melanie Kay Smith, László Puczkó, The Routledge Handbook of Health Tourism, Routledge, Abingdon and New York, 2016, pp. 231-245.
  • Mainil, Tomas; Commers, Matt; Michelsen, Kai, “The European Cross-Border Patient as Both Citizen and Consumer: Public Health and Health System Implications”, Ed. David Botterill, Guido Pennings, Tomas Mainil, Medical Tourism and Transnational Health Care, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013, pp. 131-148.  
  • Mainil, Tomas; Eijgelaar, Eke; Klijs, Jeroen; Nawijn, Jeroen; Peeters, Paul, Research for TRAN Committee – Health Tourism in the EU: A General Investigation, European Parliament, Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, Brussels, 2017.
  • Moens, Gabriël Adelin; Trone, John, Commercial Law of the European Union, Springer, Netherlands, 2010.  
  • Mossialos, Elias; Permanand, Govin; Baeten, Rita; Hervey, Tamara K., “Health Systems Governance in Europe: The Role of European Union Law and Policy”, Ed. Elias Mossialos, Govin Permanand, Rita Baeten, Tamara K. Hervey, Health Systems Governance in Europe: The Role of EU Law and Policy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010, pp. 1-83.  
  • Official Journal of the European Communities, Consolidated Version of the Treaty Establishing the European Community, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12002E/TXT (24.12.2002).
  • Official Journal of the European Union, Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, OJ C 326, pp. 47-390, http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2012/oj (26.10.2012).
  • Palm, Willy; Glinos, Irena A., “Enabling Patient Mobility in the EU: Between Free Movement and Coordination”, Ed. Elias Mossialos, Goving Permanand, Rita Baeten, Tamara K. Hervey, Health Systems Governance in Europe: The Role of EU Law and Policy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010, pp. 509-560.  
  • Ruijter, Anniek de, EU Health Law & Policy: The Expansion of EU Power in Public Health and Health Care, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2019.

Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 2

Abstract

European Union (EU) member states are known for their high-quality healthcare standards. Therefore, medical tourists prefer EU countries for various medical procedures. Not only international patients, but also regional medical mobility are observed within the Union. However, the biggest obstacle to intra-EU patient mobility is the exclusive competence that EU member states have healthcare services. The European Court of Justice (CJEU) has played a significant role in overcoming this barrier and promoting the growth of medical tourism within the EU. This study was designed to understand the impact of CJEU on EU medical tourism. In this context, the study focuses on examining the influence of CJEU on EU medical tourism. The findings of the study indicate that the impact of CJEU has been to facilitate the removal of national barriers to access to cross-border healthcare services for citizens of EU member states. CJEU’s decisions have enabled easier access to cross-border healthcare services for patients and contributed to the growth of medical tourism. In conclusion, CJEU’s decisions are a significant factor in advancing the free movement of healthcare services among EU countries and making substantial contributions to the growth of medical tourism.

References

  • Botterill, David; Mainil, Tomas; Pennings, Guido, “Introduction”, Ed. David Botterill, Guido Pennings, Tomas Mainil, Medical Tourism and Transnational Health Care, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013, pp. 1-9.  
  • Case 159/90, The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Ireland Ltd v. Stephen Grogan and others, ECR 4685, 1991.  
  • Case 158/96, Kohll v. Union des Caissesde Maladie, ECR I-01931, 1998.  
  • Case 157/99, B.S.M. Geraets-Smits v. Stichting Ziekenfonds VGZ & H.T.M. Peerbooms v. Stichting CZ Groep Zorgverzekeringen, ECR I-5509, 2001.
  • Cohen, I. Glenn, Patients with Passports: Medical Tourism, Law, and Ethics, Oxford University Press, New York, 2014.  
  • Connell, John, Medical Tourism, CAB International, 2011.  
  • Council of the European Union, Council Conclusions on Common Values and Principles in European Union Health Systems, OJ 146/01, 2006/C.
  • Council of the European Union, Directive on Cross-Border Health Care Adopted, Brussels, 7056/11, PRESSE 40, 28 February 2011.
  • Council Regulation, Regulation No. 3 of the Council on Social Security for Migrant Workers, OJ 30/561, 25-09-1958.
  • Council Regulation, Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/72 on the Application of Social Security Schemes to Employed Persons, to Self-Employed Persons and to Members of their Families Moving within the Community, OJ L149, 05-07-1971.
  • Curtin, Deidre M., “Case C-159/90, The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children Ireland Ltd v. Grogan, Judgment of 4 October 1991”, Common Market Law Review, Volume 29, Issue 3, 1992, pp. 585-603.
  • Electronic Irish Statute Book, Irishstatutebook.ie, 2018, https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/ca/36/schedule/enacted/en/html#sched-part2 (14.10.2023).
  • Faraguna, Pietro, A Living Constitutional Identity: The Contribution of Non-Judicial Actors, New York University School of Law, New York, 2015.  
  • Frischhut, Markus, “Legal and Ethical Issues of Cross-Border Reproductive Care from an EU Perspective”, Ed. Melanie Kay Smith, László Puczkó, The Routledge Handbook of Health Tourism, Routledge, Abingdon and London, 2016, pp. 203-218.  
  • Glinos, Irene A.; Baeten, Rita; Maarse, Hans, “Purchasing Health Services Abroad: Practices of Cross-Border Contracting and Patient Mobility in Six European Countries”, Health Policy, Volume 95, Issues 2-3, 2010, pp. 103-112.
  • Hermans, Herbert E. G. M., “Cross-Border Health Care in the European Union: Recent Legal Implications of ‘Decker and Kohll’”, Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, Volume 6, Issues 4, 2000, pp. 431-439.
  • Hodzic, Sabina; Paleka, Hana, “Health Tourism in the European Union: Financial Effects and Future Prospects”, 9th International Conference of the School of Economics and Business Conference Proceedings, pp. 162-174. https://www.efsa.unsa.ba/ef/sites/default/files/ices2018_conference_proceedings_final_version_2.pdf (12.10.2018).  
  • Kleefield, Sharon, “Choosing the Good Hospital: Helping Medical Tourists Make Informed Decisions”, Ed. Melanie Kay Smith, László Puczkó, The Routledge Handbook of Health Tourism, Routledge, Abingdon and New York, 2016, pp. 231-245.
  • Mainil, Tomas; Commers, Matt; Michelsen, Kai, “The European Cross-Border Patient as Both Citizen and Consumer: Public Health and Health System Implications”, Ed. David Botterill, Guido Pennings, Tomas Mainil, Medical Tourism and Transnational Health Care, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013, pp. 131-148.  
  • Mainil, Tomas; Eijgelaar, Eke; Klijs, Jeroen; Nawijn, Jeroen; Peeters, Paul, Research for TRAN Committee – Health Tourism in the EU: A General Investigation, European Parliament, Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, Brussels, 2017.
  • Moens, Gabriël Adelin; Trone, John, Commercial Law of the European Union, Springer, Netherlands, 2010.  
  • Mossialos, Elias; Permanand, Govin; Baeten, Rita; Hervey, Tamara K., “Health Systems Governance in Europe: The Role of European Union Law and Policy”, Ed. Elias Mossialos, Govin Permanand, Rita Baeten, Tamara K. Hervey, Health Systems Governance in Europe: The Role of EU Law and Policy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010, pp. 1-83.  
  • Official Journal of the European Communities, Consolidated Version of the Treaty Establishing the European Community, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12002E/TXT (24.12.2002).
  • Official Journal of the European Union, Consolidated Version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, OJ C 326, pp. 47-390, http://data.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2012/oj (26.10.2012).
  • Palm, Willy; Glinos, Irena A., “Enabling Patient Mobility in the EU: Between Free Movement and Coordination”, Ed. Elias Mossialos, Goving Permanand, Rita Baeten, Tamara K. Hervey, Health Systems Governance in Europe: The Role of EU Law and Policy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010, pp. 509-560.  
  • Ruijter, Anniek de, EU Health Law & Policy: The Expansion of EU Power in Public Health and Health Care, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2019.
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Tourism Law
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Muzaffer Akdoğan 0000-0002-9999-0969

Early Pub Date November 18, 2025
Publication Date November 26, 2025
Submission Date June 4, 2024
Acceptance Date June 26, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 12 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Akdoğan, M. (2025). Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 12(2).
AMA Akdoğan M. Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions. IMUFLR. November 2025;12(2).
Chicago Akdoğan, Muzaffer. “Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions”. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 12, no. 2 (November 2025).
EndNote Akdoğan M (November 1, 2025) Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 12 2
IEEE M. Akdoğan, “Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions”, IMUFLR, vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
ISNAD Akdoğan, Muzaffer. “Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions”. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 12/2 (November2025).
JAMA Akdoğan M. Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions. IMUFLR. 2025;12.
MLA Akdoğan, Muzaffer. “Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions”. İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 2, 2025.
Vancouver Akdoğan M. Medical Tourism in European Union Law and the Impact of CJEU Decisions. IMUFLR. 2025;12(2).