People travelling outside Europe will soon have to buy separate insurance to cover any medical bills if health minister Edith Schippers gets her way.

Schippers wants to remove global coverage from basic travel insurance which she says will save €60m a year, Nos television reports.

Healthcare costs within Europe will still be covered.

Several treaties will have to be changed in order to scrap global coverage, and negotiations are currently taking place. However, Turkey and Morocco are resisting the change, says the Nos.

Currently, the Dutch health service spends €10m on healthcare in Turkey and €5m in Morocco.

Healthcare insurers have not yet commented, says the Nos.

Schippers wants to put the new measure before parliament in September.