Denial of free medication for temporary residents lands Spain in the dock

Costa Blanca News, 25 | 02 | 2011 - Noticia

The European Commission last week announced it will take Spain to the European Court of Justice for refusing foreign EU pensioners access to free medicine while temporarily residing in Spain.

"The commission takes the view that the Spanish rules are not in line with EU law as they discriminate against pensioners from other EU member states," said an official EU press release.

EU social security legislation states that pensioners temporarily residing in another member state can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive necessary healthcare under the same conditions as pensioners from that country. Under Spanish law, pensioners get their prescription medication for free.

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