National Contact Point

The National Contact Point (NCP) is the designated point in one’s country of insurance or affiliation. The seat is within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer within the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing of Malta. The main task of NCPs is to provide patients with clear and accessible information on all aspects of accessing medical treatment abroad. The National Contact Point facilitates the exchange of information connected to questions related to cross-border healthcare services for residents in Malta as well as persons visiting the country, or European citizens enquiring about healthcare in Malta or for Cross-border healthcare reasons.  

The Directive 2011/24/EU on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (Chapter II, Article 6) and the Maltese legislation through L.N. 389 of 2013 of the Health Act of the laws of Malta termed Cross-Border Healthcare Regulations Articles 4–7 established the NCP. The National Contact Points cooperate closely with each other as well as with the Commission. The NCP can address both individual queries as well as country inquiries for example from other NCPs. 

The NCP in your home country or country of affiliation can give you information on:

  1. Your rights and entitlements to cross-border healthcare related to general conditions as well as to your circumstances 
  2. The different options to cover the costs of your planned health care in another EU state 
  3. What types of treatments are reimbursable as well as how much you can expect to be reimbursed 
  4. The terms and conditions for reimbursement of your medical costs   
  5. Your rights to receive necessary treatment with EHIC (emergency treatment) 
  6. Your right to have some or all your costs reimbursed  
  7. Whether prior authorisation is needed and how to apply for it 
  8. The administrative procedures for reimbursement of your medical costs 
  9. Procedures for appeal and redress in case you consider that your rights have not been  respected  

The NCP in the country you plan to or receive treatment in can give you information on: 

  1. The healthcare system of that country  
  2. The healthcare providers covered by the EHIC scheme 
  3. The standards and guidelines on quality and safety which apply in that country
  4. Whether a particular healthcare provider is registered and authorised to practice that medical treatment or any restrictions to that practice 
  5. Indemnity procedures in the country of treatment 
    the accessibility of hospitals for persons with disabilities   
  6. Patients’ rights in that country, including the procedures for appeal and redress in case you consider that your rights have not been respected such as when something goes wrong 

Workflows

Pre-Authorisation

Reimbursement

Appeals and Redress

Information on this page was last updated on:
  • February 27, 2024