Adam Niedzielski: We want to take a fresh look at the issue of quality

- We want to take a fresh look at the issue of quality. We all agree that details and technical differences in approach can be discussed, but the issue of quality in the health care system is crucial for the patient and, in my opinion, closes a certain concept of reforming the health care system," Adam Niedzielski said at Tuesday's press conference following a meeting of the Council of Patient Organizations.

According to the Minister of Health, the guarantee of the sound performance of health care services is to be provided primarily by the Law on Quality.

- We will propose a law focusing on the very issue of quality and patient safety, which basically boils down to the fact that we will measure quality in the healthcare system. This will be the basis for rewarding those entities that are better. The most important solution in this law is that the patient will have the right to evaluate the health care system in very different areas. He will be able to express himself, first of all, in terms of whether the services were carried out in conditions that ensured dignity or gave him the opportunity to understand the situation of the disease that affects him," said the head of the health ministry.

In addition to patient experience, clinical aspects are to be measured. This will be the basis for rewarding better centers. The second pillar of the proposed solution is to be a patient compensation fund. This will take place within the framework of an amendment to the Patient Ombudsman Act. A simplified administrative procedure is to ensure that a claim is processed in a maximum of three months.

- We already have an immunization compensation fund, and a clinical trial compensation fund has also begun operations. Both are designed to efficiently compensate patients. The MP bill, however, will establish a third fund: The Medical Events Compensation Fund. These solutions are modeled on Scandinavian systems. A hospital facility where a medical event has occurred will receive information from the Patient Ombudsman on what should be improved so that such situations do not occur in the future, Patient Ombudsman Bartlomiej Chmielowiec said.

- Specific ceilings will be set for the amount of these compensations: from 2 thousand to 200 thousand zlotys, and in the case of death up to 100 thousand zlotys. In the case of a patient's death, the immediate members of the entire family, both children and parents, will be able to apply for compensation. The law describes in great detail the procedure to be followed, i.e. the appointment of a team by the Patient Ombudsman, which will include at least 20 members, including at least 15 doctors. After a detailed analysis, a decision will be made on the payment of appropriate compensation If the patient or family does not agree with the Ombudsman's decision, the path provided for by other laws will be opened, i.e. a civil or criminal action," explained Józefa Szczurek-Zelazko.

A separate discussion, however, is to take place around the no fault system. This issue is to be excluded from the proposed laws.

- We want the discussion on what principles the exemption from criminal liability as a result of a mistake and medical error should operate to take place among experts. It is important that the conversation take place outside the atmosphere of political aggression that has dominated recently. We will be able to consummate the conclusions in the next possible draft," the Health Minister indicated.

- I am glad that we were able to see the assumptions of both proposed legislation. The welfare of the patient, which is always a vector of action for all stakeholders in the health care system, presupposes three basic elements. First is the availability of health services, second is the quality of health services provided, and in a broader perspective, the quality of health care, and third is health security. These pieces of legislation largely exhaust the mentioned premises. It is good that the new draft law on quality in health care has been cleared of all those provisions that aroused controversy," assessed Rev. Arkadiusz Nowak, chairman of the Council of Patient Organizations.