Challenges in cardiology. Will the MZ increase valuations?

These, among others, were discussed at a press conference and accompanying debate organized by the Polish Society of Cardiology, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary on February 28. It is the largest scientific society in Poland, with more than 5,000 members. - The Polish Society of Cardiology is a thriving organization that integrates the expert community in order to work together to improve the quality of cardiac care," said Prof. Robert Gil, president of the Polish Society of Cardiology.

During the conference, the Decalogue of Polish Cardiology 2023-2025, presented a few months ago, was recalled, i.e. the most important postulates, challenges (referring to problems that hinder cardiologists from providing effective help to patients). Among them, PTK representatives mentioned:

- The need to fully launch the National Cardiovascular Disease Program,

- Making valuations in cardiology more realistic,

- More efficient reimbursement of procedures with proven benefits for patients - such as genetic testing,

- Fast-track reimbursement for new medical devices and drug technologies.

To what extent are the demands of cardiologists realistic? Deputy Health Minister Wojciech Konieczny admitted that valuations in general need to be improved (raised), but also noted that cardiology "is not the most neglected field." He did not rule out the possibility of increasing valuations in this area, but did not give hope for very radical changes either.

On cardiology, the NHF, said Maciej Karaszewski, deputy director of the NHF's Department of Health Care Services, spent about PLN 20 billion last year: PLN 17 billion for health care services, PLN 2.5 billion for drug reimbursement and more than PLN 200 million for drugs financed under drug programs. This amounts to several percent of the NFZ budget, and these expenditures will only increase, which is why it is so important, explained the payer's representative, to shift the emphasis: on the one hand on prevention, and on the other - on covering as many patients as possible with cardiac care early and at a basic level. This is to be served, among other things, by coordinated care in the PCP. - Of the 1,800 specialists who have contracts with POZ clinics, the majority are cardiologists, he stressed.

The challenges are enormous. - Poland remains, on the map of Europe, in a high cardiovascular risk group. The life expectancy of Poles is still shorter than the average life expectancy of a resident of the European Union. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death," reminded Prof. Marcin Grabowski, spokesman for the Polish Cardiac Society.

- About half of the deaths are actually cardiovascular diseases. We don't put enough emphasis on prevention and prevention, including all risk factors," added Senator Beata Malecka-Libera of KO, head of the Senate Health Committee, pointing out, once again in recent weeks (she spoke about it, among other things, during work on the 2024 budget), the need for more funding for the National Health Program. - Financial outlays for national programs, whether oncology or cardiovascular disease, are money primarily for treatment, not prevention, she added. She also pointed to the need for an interdisciplinary approach to prevention efforts.