- In the case of preventive examinations, mammography and cytology, we are again dealing with dualism very characteristic of the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund. The assumptions are good, but they don't stand up to a clash with reality," says the president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin, Michal Bulsa. What is the problem? Primary care clinics will not expand the spectrum of their examinations, because the level of reimbursement from the National Health Fund is too small to cover the costs of, for example, hiring a midwife or buying equipment.
More women can get cytology and mammography starting in November. Attendance success is not there, however
Published Nov. 27, 2023 10:11
Fot. Getty Images/iStockphoto
As of November 1, 2023, preventive mammography on the National Health Service can be done by ladies between the ages of 45 and 74, and cytology by ladies between the ages of 25 and 64. The idea is to detect breast cancer and cervical cancer as early as possible and to be able to treat them more effectively. The premise is laudable and laudable, and the tests are free, which in theory should contribute to widespread interest.
- After the first month, we cannot speak of attendance success. Several elements are missing: promotion of such examinations on the part of the National Health Fund and the Ministry of Health, as well as actions that will make it profitable for clinics to perform, for example: cytology," admits Michał Bulsa, president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin.
The problem is small towns where gynecologists are not accepted by the National Health Service and where there is no way to perform mammograms.
So we have a situation where more patients could join the tests, but they don't join because there is nowhere. There is no infrastructure for examinations in small towns, and patients are not eager to go. There is also no willingness to set up new gynecological offices, due to staff shortages, and reimbursement for examinations for PCPs is at an embarrassingly low level," adds Michal Bulsa.
- It is not enough to plan that younger ladies will be covered by the examination. This must be followed by a specific amount of money, promotion and expansion of the map of surgeries and clinics that will be able to perform these examinations. Our experience shows that female patients need to be persuaded to get screened, they need to be reminded. PCP offices won't do it, knowing that they don't have the capacity to carry it out, or if it ends up costing more to take a swab than the NHF will reimburse the clinic. The valuation of the service must be higher. This is the simplest solution," says Michal Bulsa.
source: press release
Topics
badania profilaktyczne / OIL Szczecin / mammografia / profilaktyka / Michał Bulsa / cytologia
