Irish patients who face lengthy waiting lists for medical treatment here are entitled to seek treatment abroad and be reimbursed by the HSE, however few patients seem to be aware of their rights in this area, it has been claimed.

The Cross-Border Directive (CBD) came into effect on June 1, 2014 and it allows Irish residents to obtain healthcare that they would be entitled to within the public health system in Ireland, in other EU member states.

However, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey, just 35% of Irish citizens felt well informed about their rights in relation to cross-border healthcare.

Meanwhile figures from the HSE show that just 215 patients applied for reimbursement under the CBD in 2015, with 157 of these fully reimbursed by December 31, 2015. These full reimbursements cost the HSE over €571,600.

Denmark, on the other hand, had 30,000 claims from its population.

When availing of the CBD, the cost of the treatment is paid by the individual and they then seek reimbursement on their return to Ireland.

"Irish patients routinely face long waiting times for care, and the recent 2015 European Health Consumer Index (EHCI) gives Ireland an overall ranking of 21 out of 35 countries. Amidst growing concerns about the quality of healthcare in Ireland, medical travel can provide an excellent alternative for Irish patients looking to receive faster access to quality care," commented Pawel Cebula, co-founder of medical travel facilitator, Medigo.com.

Irish patients have so far received treatment, such as orthodontic procedures, in a number of countries as part of the CBD, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.

For more information on how the CBD works, click here