Traditionally - nobody consulted anything with the medical community, asked or consulted anything. Quite simply - by surprise and unexpectedly, POZ doctors found out that the Ministry of Health presented a draft regulation in which antigen tests were added to the guaranteed benefits package. There were ... two days to give opinions on this project.
The Ministry of Health surprised GPs once again
Published April 8, 2022 10:44
What does this mean for GPs?
- Within two weeks we have a lot of legal and organizational changes in health care, but also reversing the rules of fighting the epidemic and its financing - says Jacek Krajewski, president of the Zielonogórskie Agreement Federation. - Until the end of March, we tested everyone, then practically no one, now the tests are to be for everyone as a guaranteed, financial and organized service by POZ. So we - family medicine specialists - are to finance the services for patients from our own resources, not from a contract with the National Health Fund - adds Krajewski.
Currently, the tests are available at RARS/the Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves/, but it is not known how long it will be
- If there are no tests in RARS, GPs will simply have to buy them at their own expense, says Joanna Szeląg, PZ expert. - Either in wholesalers or in pharmacies. And if necessary, perform such a test at the health care clinic at your own expense. If it is not possible - lack of staff or organizational problems - the doctor may order it, for example, to diagnostic centers, but he will pay for it ... from his own resources - adds Joanna Szeląg.
- This is a very dangerous precedent - says Wojciech Pacholicki, vice-president of the Federation of Zielona Góra Agreement. - Patients, as a result of media reports of health care experts, already expect that they will perform a free test at POZ clinics. The problem is that most institutions do not have such tests at present.
- This is not the first time that the Ministry of Health has acted in this way - from the position of the stronger, issuing warrant - explains Jacek Krajewski. - Let's add - it issues completely ill-considered decisions. Because from April 1, 2022, swab points, transport and covid units were liquidated.
A few weeks ago, without any consultation with medics, a decree was issued, ordering GPs to examine personally every patient over 60 who was diagnosed with Covid infection. Also during a home visit.
- Not all patients require immediate admission. The minister forgot that the staff is thin, there is a shortage of doctors, and we have an increasing number of consultations, now there are also visits of patients from Ukraine - explained Wojciech Pacholicki.
And one more controversial minister's decree of February 9, 2022 regarding the GTC - General Terms and Conditions of Contracts - provides that changes to the orders of the President of the National Health Fund will automatically bind service providers, including POZ, without the need to add annexes with the consent of both parties.
- For some time, the Ministry of Health, instead of negotiating and working out rules of conduct with the community, has been using orders, says Jacek Krajewski, president of the Zielona Góra Agreement. - It's scary to think where this policy will lead us.
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