Britain has said that it will not commit itself to financing a health tourism free-for-all proposal that will give people the right to go for the best and fastest treatment in European countries.

The proposal for free cross-border health care was put forward by the European Commission this week and it would guarantee that the cost of treatment in other EU countries will be reimbursed by the patient’s own health scheme back home.

The plan comes after years of legal cases in which European courts ruled that freedom to cross EU borders for treatment should be a right for all.

Before this development the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) was often relied on for emergency care across the EU for patients who fell ill abroad.

However, only those with health insurance at home could be eligible to use the EHIC in the event of emergency treatment.

Reacting cautiously to the proposal, the Department of Health said it was only a draft Directive and that it would be subject to change during negotiations on the issue between EU health ministers.

“The Government is clear that health tourism will not be funded by the NHS. We are also absolutely committed to ensuring that, where UK patients choose to travel abroad for care, the NHS retains the ability to decide what care it would fund,” said a Department of Health spokesman.