Patients using the services of family doctors can breathe a sigh of relief, because the deadlock lasting more than two months in the scope of annexes to contracts between POZ and the National Health Fund has ended. As many as 1/3 of all POZ clinics did not agree to the terms and conditions contained in the annexes to the contracts sent by the NHF, and the point of contention was the unilaterally changed notice period. Doctors sent back the annexes with the imposed 90-day notice period crossed out, entering the existing 45 days in this place. The National Health Fund did not adopt such a form, as a result of which the institutions were suspended from disbursing funds for statutory increases that did not require annexes.
- Both parties decided to start talks, which culminated in a meeting of representatives of the Federation Board of the Zielona Góra Agreement and the President of the National Health Fund. “ The PZ Federation represents 1/3 of all institutions from all over Poland, we treat 12 million Poles. This difficult situation had to finally come to an end, as further suspension of payments threatened to close outlets, which, given the current staff shortages, especially in rural areas, could be difficult to rebuild. The problem of two-speed primary health care is already felt, the escalation of this situation would hit primarily the patients. It's good that we found a way out of this situation together. ”says Jacek Krajewski, president of the Zielona Góra Agreement Federation.
What was agreed during the meeting ? Representatives of POZ units agreed to a 90-day notice period for contracts, however, the Provincial National Health Fund branches will have the option of shortening the notice period on an individual basis under the guidelines that they will receive from the President of the Fund. The payer also undertook to immediately pay the overdue benefits at the rates resulting from the ordinance No. 96/2022/DSOZ, after signing the relevant annexes by the institutions. An important effect of the meeting is the obligation of the President of the National Health Fund to submit in advance changes to the ordinances regarding the conditions for concluding and implementing contracts for opinion so that the situation that has just taken place will never be repeated again, and thus the health safety of Poles will not be compromised. .
" Staff shortages, migration of skilled workers, unattractive working conditions and poor access to continuous professional development are destroying health systems " said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge , WHO Regional Director for Europe .
When it comes to the number of working doctors, nurses and midwives (for most countries, data are from 2019-2020) compared with the regional average of 121 per 10,000 inhabitants, Poland is below average . Out of 53 countries, we are 11th. From the end.
In the face of these data, it is imperative to develop cooperation based on trust and respect to ensure patient safety. The deepening crisis of human resources in health care, particularly acute for patients in rural areas, requires the development of such a form cooperation between the community and the payer, which will ensure patient safety. “ We have to think about the patients first of all. Today, in order for us to be able to provide patients with the highest quality of service, dialogue is essential. Family medicine specialists are the patient's first, basic choice, in many cases almost part of the family - adds Tomasz Zieliński, vice president of the Zielonogórskie Agreement Federation .
It was agreed at the meeting that not only representatives of the management boards of both entities, but also entire negotiating teams would participate in the next, more advanced talks.
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