Medical Chamber on the possibility of closing births in the region: "The number of births is declining. You shouldn't argue with the math."

Declining number of births - a need for change?

The president of the Regional Medical Council in Szczecin, Michal Bulsa, stresses that demographics are inexorable, and the number of births in Poland has been declining for years. As he notes, the statistics cannot be ignored: "We are currently talking about a certain probability, which the Ministry of Health justifies with statistics, and as you know, it is difficult to argue with mathematics. The birth rate is declining, there are fewer and fewer births, maintaining some delivery rooms is not rational from a logistical and economic point of view, as well as due to the lack of utilization of the potential of medical staff," Bulsa says.

Optimization at the expense of numbers?

Over the past decade, the number of births in Poland has fallen by 40%, which calls into question the effectiveness of some labor wards, especially in smaller towns. "If lower quantity is followed by better quality, then the changes should be evaluated positively," he said. - Michal Bulsa adds, stressing that optimization in health care is necessary for more rational spending. He also points out that staff shortages in labor wards are acutely felt, and centralization of services could contribute to better use of available medical resources.

Patient safety as a priority

President Bulsa, who is himself a gynecologist, points out that any decision to close a ward should take into account the comfort and safety of patients. It is necessary to analyze the infrastructure, the number of emergency teams in the area and other relevant aspects that can affect the quality of health care. For example, according to President Bulsa, the maternity ward in Swinoujscie should not be closed, due to the nature of the resort's location, which requires access to full medical services.

Openness to dialogue and the search for compromises

The Regional Medical Chamber of Szczecin expresses its readiness for an open discussion of possible changes. "We are, as the District Medical Chamber, open to discussion on this topic, because this topic certainly requires discussion, rational analysis and compromises," declares Michal Bulsa. He points out that the key is to develop solutions that will both meet the needs of patients and be rational from the point of view of the organization of the health care system.

The Health Ministry, which is gathering feedback on the issue, plans to implement any changes within three years. As ministry officials emphasize, the goal is to ensure that health care is both accessible and of the highest quality, which may require difficult decisions regarding the reorganization of the country's network of delivery wards.

Source" OIL Szczecin