The "Conscious Safe Me" package, investments from the National Recovery Plan, easier access to services and medicines, digitization of health care and the hospital reform project - these are what the health ministry boasts about in its summary of the year.
Izabela Leszczyna: We will restructure unprofitable hospitals
Published Dec. 12, 2024 09:00
Programs implemented included improving the quality of life of patients, hospital reform, digitization, development of medical staff, and increasing the availability of services and medicines.
The "Conscious, Safe Me" Package.
The Ministry began its activities with the "Conscious, Safe Me" program, aimed at women. Its results include:
- Availability of emergency contraception in 70% of counties,
- More than 6,750 pregnancies thanks to the free IVF program, which ranked Poland 19th in the European Atlas of Infertility Treatment Policies,
- fertility preservation for 429 cancer patients,
- An increase of 25% in the number of prenatal tests (as many as 180,000 women benefited from the diagnosis),
- Free pertussis vaccination for pregnant women (29,000 people benefited).
A regulation on new standards for perinatal care, including pre-natal education and prevention of breast cancer in pregnant women, will soon be in consultation.
Palliative and hospice care
The abolition of limits in palliative and hospice care and an additional PLN 213.07 million for services in this area are the Ministry's next steps. Changes to the basket of guaranteed benefits are also planned.
PCP and AOS
In order to facilitate access to primary health care (PHC) doctors in small towns, the health ministry has provided more than PLN 1 billion in investments. The idea was to provide access to POZ in areas that are so-called "white spots" in terms of access to primary health care services.
A similar competition is expected to be re-announced in January 2025 for outpatient specialty care.
Drug safety
The Ministry has introduced a list of Polish drugs for which patients will pay less (10-15%). A National List of Critical Medicines has also been established to safeguard access to medicines in emergency situations.
Free medicines and vaccinations
The authority to write prescriptions for free drugs for seniors (65+) and adolescents (18-) has been expanded. Pharmacists will be able to write prescriptions for reimbursable vaccinations, increasing the availability of flu and pneumococcal vaccinations, among others.
Psychiatry and helpline
PLN 1.2 billion has been allocated for the development of community psychiatric care, and PLN 3 billion for psychiatric hospitals. There is also a helpline for children and adolescents (116 111), open 24/7.
Digitization and central e-registration
A pilot of central e-registration has started, involving 150 medical entities. The system enables better management of health care resources and shorter queues.
State Emergency Medical Services
Outlays for emergency medical services have increased by 15% and for EDs by 29% compared to 2023. The Ministry plans to amend the PRM Law, streamlining the work of paramedics.
National Reconstruction Plan
From the KPO funds were allocated:
- PLN 9.2 billion to modernize hospitals (oncology and district hospitals),
- PLN 4.3 billion for digitization,
- PLN 3.1 billion to increase the number of medical personnel.
In 2024, 17 of the 19 planned milestones were achieved.
Hospitality reform
Work on hospital reform will continue. It is planned to adapt the structure of hospitals to the needs of patients and rationalize the management of medical staff.
"We want to adapt the structures of hospital departments to the needs of patients. We will achieve this with the new hospital network." - says Minister Izabela Leszczyna and announces "We will restructure unprofitable hospitals" (...) "I know that local governments understand the need for these changes and want to implement them."
Source: MZ
