Northern (N): General (N). Medical Service Agreements with Eastern Europe

A file of correspondence and reports concerning British health service agreements with Bulgaria, Poland, and Hungary. The documents cover negotiations for bilateral conventions on medical services, which would entitle each country's citizens to the benefits accorded to the other's nationals while abroad. Discussions on the draft agreements cover the scope of medical benefits available; the number of visitors between the U.K. and the East European countries in question; the eligibility requirements for claiming benefits, including discussions on what constitutes a U.K. national; and plans to limited U.K. eligibility to those in possession of a National Health Service Card. The file also includes background briefs on the British National Health Service, including its history, remit, and services; briefs on the draft medical service conventions; and details of the arrangements for a trip to Europe by Nigerian officials, who are seeking to interest medical professionals from Austria and Eastern Europe in working in Nigeria.