The premise of the 40 PLUS Program was very simple. It was supposed to rebuild the health of Poles after the pandemic. At that time, many patients did not regularly perform preventive examinations, and some avoided them altogether. The consequences of such behavior are tragic; to this day, patients with advanced illnesses and severely exacerbated chronic diseases still end up in the offices of the POZ. As intended, the program is expected to run until the end of June. Experts stress, however, that it is worth keeping it up, but in no way is it worth holding back, inhibiting a preventive program that is just beginning to produce tangible results.
PZ: Closure of the 40 PLUS Prevention Program is a loss for patients
Published May 10, 2024 08:56
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The Prophylaxis 40 PLUS program packages free examinations for anyone over 40. More than 23 million people in Poland are eligible for these tests. More than a thousand clinics can perform them. On average, each facility has more than 2.5 thousand patients in the 40 PLUS program. So far, more than 2.8 million Poles have taken advantage of it once, and nearly 400 thousand have registered for the tests a second time.
On average in the country, 12.2 percent of those eligible have taken their first tests, but there are facilities that have this rate at a very high level, even 78 percent. This pays off.
- The benefits to patients are enormous. We have detected a great number of patients with hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia who never thought to get screened before. Thanks to the 40 PLUS program, patients are caught at a much earlier stage. For example, through stool testing for occult blood, extended by colonoscopy if necessary, we can increase the detection of colon cancer," says Wojciech Pacholicki. - Patients are treated more easily, the results are better and faster. Profits alone," calculates Wojciech Pacholicki, vice president of the Federation Zielonogórskie Porozumienie Zielonogórskie.
This is confirmed by other doctors. Malgorzata Stokowska-Wojda, a family physician from Laszczow, stresses that this is a win-win for the patient, the doctor and the system.
- There is no systemic health education in Poland, and this program provides an opportunity to talk to patients about prevention, to teach them how to take care of themselves in a healthy way, the doctor adds. - The 40 PLUS program gives the opportunity to detect diseases when they don't yet give symptoms, when they don't hurt or bother too much, but already the disease is attacking and destroying. This is the case, for example, with diabetes. I have many such patients in whom the disease was detected when it was already advanced, with serious complications.
And nothing costs as much as treating complications, such as diabetic foot or kidney failure, dialyzing patients.
- In the 40 PLUS program, patients are weighed and measured. It's such a balance sheet of patients 40 and older. I detect then a lot of overweight and obese people completely unaware not only of their weight, but also of the dangers because of it," adds Dr. Agata Slawin, an expert of the Federation Porozumienie Zielonogórskie.
The program requires doctors and clinic staff to do extra work. Patient results ordered by the IKP as a result of the survey must be interpreted in depth. This requires an additional visit to the doctor, but experts hope that the systemic benefits will be huge. Family medicine specialists stress that the program significantly improves access to preventive examinations for patients over 40.
- In a few years we will see this in the system. There will be fewer diabetes complications, fewer heart attacks and strokes. But the program would have to continue," adds Wojciech Pacholicki. - One can think about changes, adjustments, such as adding a package of preventive tests for early detection of cancer.
Elaborated. based on: Porozumienie Zielonogórskie
