States unanimously agree to a new reciprocal health agreement

Thursday 14 July 2022

The States of Guernsey have agreed unanimously to enter into a new reciprocal health agreement (RHA) with the UK government.

The arrangement with the UK would allow residents of both Guernsey and the UK free access to medically essential treatment in either jurisdiction.

A brief history

The Bailiwick of Guernsey had a reciprocal health agreement between 1948 and 2009, but in 2009 the UK decided to cancel it.

For the past 13 years there has been a political and public want to re-establish that agreement.

In 2018 the UK government indicated that it would be open to negotiating a new agreement. The Policy & Resources Committee has since negotiated a new RHA with the UK’s Department of Health & Social Care.

The President of P&R, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, said voting the proposal through should be a no-brainer: “We have the chance, but we have to move now.”

He said his Committee has done incredible work in getting RHA to this point.

“The credit due here… is due to our excellent external relations team. They are constantly… kicking people’s ankles to try and get things done.”

The proposal was voted in unanimously.

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