According to data from the National Health Fund for 2023, 1.3 million medical appointments are missed in Poland, and this is only in 40 monitored services. The problem affects 26,000 public facilities and private entities across the country. In response to the challenges this poses, the third edition of the #releases#unblocked campaign has been launched. - It's not just education. What you are doing is first and foremost about changing attitudes of ourselves, relationships and attitudes towards the other," said Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna during the inaugural conference.
Missed appointments are a complex problem. Education is needed
Published Oct. 2, 2024 12:39
- A missed appointment is not only a waste of time and money. It's also taking away a chance for treatment. We are thus taking away the other person's chance to get treatment, take care of his or her health, and sometimes even save his or her own life," the health ministry head pointed out.
The contribution to be made by the Health Ministry to combat the problem of non-cancellation will be central e-registration.
- Since August, we have started recruiting subjects for the pilot. For the time being, we include cardiac care and mammography. The pilot is all the better the more entities participate in it," stressed Izabela Leszczyna.
Patient Ombudsman Bartlomiej Chmielowiec pointed out that non-cancellation of appointments is a complex problem. On the one hand, it concerns patients who do not set aside time to notify the facility that they will not be coming. On the other hand, it affects the medical entities themselves.
- I also receive complaints from patients who want to cancel an appointment, but have no way to do so. They call the medical facility, but the phone is busy, they would like to send a text message, but have nowhere to send it, they would like to send an email, but have trouble finding a dedicated box. Hence the importance of educating medical facilities and understanding that every missed appointment is a loss," noted Bartholomew Chmielowiec.
As emphasized by Pawel Walicki, president of CMP Medical Center, which is one of the organizers of the campaign, the goal of the campaign is to make patients aware of the seriousness of the problem.
- So far we have half reached it, as half of the people are already aware of it. Have they all taken it to heart? That's a question for each of us: have we ever forgotten to cancel a visit," he said at the launch.
