Scientific societies and NSO experts are calling for the amendment to the KSO to be finalized quickly

The Polish Oncology Society (PTO), the Polish Society of Clinical Oncology (PTOK), the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology (PTChO), the Polish Society of Radiation Oncology (PTRO), and the Minister of Health’s Task Force on the National Oncology Strategy have published a joint statement in which they unequivocally support the government’s draft bill amending the Act on the National Oncology Network and certain other acts (Parliamentary Document No. 2643). The signatories call for the urgent completion of the legislative process and the immediate signing of the bill by the President of the Republic of Poland.

As representatives of the oncology community emphasize, the primary goal of these changes remains to improve the quality and safety of care for patients with cancer.

The draft amendment proposes measures designed to improve the functioning of the National Oncology Network. Among the most important changes are more effective monitoring of the quality of care, better coordination of the diagnostic and treatment process, a reduction in administrative burdens, and the creation of conditions for the full implementation of modern IT tools.

One of the key elements of the reform is the transition to an electronic format for the oncology diagnosis and treatment record. According to the draft, starting January 1, 2027, the DiLO record will be available exclusively in electronic form (e-DiLO). According to the authors of the position paper, the swift enactment of the law is essential to adequately prepare the healthcare system and healthcare providers for this change.

The amendment also provides for strengthening the mechanisms for evaluating the quality of cancer care. The National Health Fund will analyze treatment data and publish the results of its quality assessments. This is intended to enable ongoing monitoring of the effects of the implemented measures, identify areas requiring improvement, and increase the transparency of the system’s operations.

Experts also highlight the importance of legally clarifying the definition of continuity of oncological care (follow-up), which covers the period following the completion of cancer treatment. They emphasize that this is an area requiring clear organizational and clinical standards. They also note that the recommendations regarding the organization of follow-up care developed by the PTO’s Section for Standardization of Post-Oncological Treatment Surveillance can provide significant support in implementing the new regulations.

The authors of the position paper emphasize that the timely passage of the bill will allow for the planned changes to be implemented according to schedule and will bring tangible benefits to both patients and the entire healthcare system.

The joint statement was signed by: Prof. Andrzej Rutkowski, Chair of the PTO Executive Board; Prof. Maciej Krzakowski, President of the PTOK; Dr. Marek Zawadzki, President of the PTChO; Prof. (Wroclaw University of Technology), the President of the Polish Society of Radiation Oncology (PTRO), Prof. Jacek Fijuth, and the Chair of the Minister of Health’s Task Force on the National Oncology Strategy, Prof. Piotr Rutkowski.

Source: PTO