Patient notifications in 2023: what are they about, what has changed?

- In 2023, the MPC office received 98892 reports from patients - less than in 2020-2022, but more than before the pandemic, Bartholomew Chmielowiec said at the Health Committee meeting. In 2021, the MPC received more than 163,000 notifications. The higher number of complaints to the Patient Ombudsman than before the pandemic, however, is not necessarily due to a worsening of the situation for patients: it is the result of many factors, such as greater awareness of the possibility of filing a complaint or even technical facilities (the existence of a hotline that patients or their relatives can call). However, the spokesman pointed out that the number of signals is not the same as the number of those who experience difficulties in health care or even - violations of their rights. As he stated, many people are not aware that they can complain or even - that they have rights that are not respected.

As Chmielowiec said, more than half of all complaints relate to the availability of services - most often patients report problems in outpatient care, both in POZ and AOS, significantly less often in hospital services. One in three complaints relates to the quality of services provided - and here complaints about hospital treatment predominate.

Among other things, the MPC has dealt with cases involving access to medical records, excessive restrictions on visiting patients in hospitals, improper use of direct coercion in psychiatric hospitals, and the provision of services that are inconsistent with current medical knowledge.

In 2023. The MPC was given new powers, including the handling of the Medical Event Compensation Fund (actually launched in 2024). - To date, 1,500 applications for payment of benefits from the Fund have been received, a spokesman told the committee. Approximately 9.5 million zlotys have been paid to patients from the Compensation Fund, the average benefit is 60 thousand zlotys. - 1.5 thousand applications means 1.5 thousand fewer cases in the courts, Bartlomiej Chmielowiec said.

Although the report covers 2023, Bartholomew Chmielowiec also spoke about some of the interventions made in 2024 and at the moment - for example, in cases of violations of regulations restricting prescribing by teleportation. Twelve cases have been reported, he said, in which, despite the ban, doctors have issued prescriptions for drugs included in the health minister's regulation without a personal visit from the patient.

The MPC's report, approved by the committee, will now go to the plenary session of the Diet.