- The situation related to the operation of primary health care, pharmacies and hospitals is very difficult. We are in constant contact with the governors. We try to have full knowledge of what the situation of emergency services is like. We have also discussed the possibility of air ambulance support," said Deputy Minister Marek Kos during a press briefing on the situation in flood-stricken areas.
Marek Kos: The situation in flooded areas is difficult
fot. MZ
National Health Fund President Filip Nowak encouraged the use of the hotline: 800 190 590. 24 hours a day, thanks to it, you can get information about available health care assistance. He also pointed out an important change, regarding resources for family doctors.
- I have signed an order allowing us to finance care for patients also outside the so-called active list. Any patient can use any doctor in the country and that doctor will receive funding from us," he explained.
President Nowak also recalled the support of services in evacuation operations - this includes the assistance of emergency medical services, which transport patients who require dialysis from inaccessible areas to other dialysis stations.
- By the decision of Minister Izabela Leszczyna, we are launching two additional Air Ambulance teams in the flood-affected area. One of them started operating today, the next will start tomorrow. They will operate from Opole and Wroclaw," LPR director Marcin Podgórski informed in turn.
The Chief Sanitary Inspector Pawel Grzesiowski assured that the sanitary inspection is constantly monitoring the situation.
- District stations are on duty 24 hours a day at an emergency phone number(https://gov.pl/web/gis/stacje-sanitarno-epidemiologiczne). Reports of contamination are accepted and information is provided on the suitability of water for consumption in the area," the GIS chief pointed out, and noted that contact with flood water can endanger the health of people and animals. Food that has come into contact with water should be discarded without fail, even if the packaging has not been damaged.
- We are tracking the condition of the water supply. Where intakes have been contaminated, water is cut off. Then only drinkable water is bottled or brought in tankers. During floods, we should absolutely not use water from wells. We advise against treating water ourselves," added Pawel Grzesiowski.
The drug safety of patients in flooded areas is also being monitored.
- In Głuchołazy, 6 pharmacies out of 7 existing ones have been flooded, in Nysa we have 11 pharmacies flooded or waterlogged, a dozen pharmacies are also not functioning in Lower Silesia. In the vast majority of places, access to medicines is ensured," assured General Pharmaceutical Inspector Lukasz Pietrzak.
He also reminded that pharmacists can issue pharmaceutical prescriptions in situations where a patient's health or life is at risk. He also cautioned not to use medicines that have come into contact with floodwater, as they can endanger health.
Access to health care in flood-affected areas is being monitored on an ongoing basis in cooperation with governors and local services.
compiled based on: www.gov.pl
