asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities are available to enable patients in the National Health Service to obtain free specialist medical treatment in the USSR where specialist facilities available in that country are not available within the United Kingdom.
The reciprocal health agreement, signed in Moscow on 17th February, enables a citizen of this country who requires specialist medical treatment available in the USSR but not in the United Kingdom to be sent, with the agreement of the two Governments, to the USSR to receive treatment free of charge. Arrangements for the implementation of this facility are being discussed and will probably be finalised when the Anglo-Soviet Joint Committee resulting from the agreement meets in September.