The Parliamentary Health Committee passed a government bill on laboratory medicine. 14 deputies sitting in the committee voted for the bill. Six were against. One person abstained. According to the project, only a person who graduated in medical analyst will be able to practice the profession of a laboratory diagnostician. The discussion of committee members was triggered by the issue of introducing a transitional period in which this profession could also be practiced by people with faculties such as biology or chemistry who would complete postgraduate studies.
Draft act on laboratory medicine adopted by the Health Committee
Published Sept. 13, 2022 15:03
As we read in the explanatory memorandum to the bill, laboratory diagnosticians currently cannot practice as part of their professional practice. The new regulations are to make it possible. Only people who graduated in medical analyst or laboratory medicine will be able to obtain the title of a laboratory diagnostician. The persons authorized to independently perform laboratory medicine works in the laboratory will be, in addition to laboratory diagnosticians, also, inter alia, and doctors licensed to practice and 1st or 2nd degree specialization in the field of analytics or in the field of microbiology or laboratory diagnostics.
A lively discussion was sparked by the provisions relating to the introduction of a transitional period until 2028, in which people with faculties such as biology or chemistry will be able to work as a diagnostician after completing their education with postgraduate studies.
- One of the essences of the law on laboratory medicine is that medical analysts are actually limited to the professions of people who graduate in such a field. Moreover, at the moment no university offers such postgraduate studies - noted MP Elżbieta Gelert from the Civic Coalition.
- This may raise some doubts from the perspective of people working in this profession. In our opinion, this transition period should be maintained, so that we do not deprive anyone of the opportunity to complete their education - argued Deputy Minister of Health Piotr Bromber.
- The nature of five-year, hard studies that are completed by analytical diagnostics differs significantly from the knowledge that is passed on to students of biology or chemistry. Our committee is to ensure that the Polish patient is served by competent people, so that the patients are safe - added the deputy chairman of the parliamentary health committee Rajmund Miller from KO.
Finally, the amendment proposed by KO deputies to delete such provisions was rejected.
Pursuant to the planned act, a laboratory diagnostician will be obliged to carry out professional development. The draft act provides that the specialization is co-financed by the minister of health from the state budget funds.
The draft act also clarifies the provisions on the exercise by the National Council of supervision over the performance of the profession of diagnostician and clarifies the rules of conducting visits to laboratories. Pursuant to the proposed provisions, mechanisms are to be created to effectively bring to professional liability a person performing the profession of laboratory diagnostician in the event of improper or unreliable performance of professional activities.
