Description
The project objective is to introduce social control over introduction and implementation by the Ministry of Health of the so-called Oncological Package that will lead to deep changes in oncological healthcare in Poland after January 1, 2015. The public scrutiny will be performed with participation of organisations gathered in the Civic Union for Oncology (over 40 organisations) and in partnership with the Federation of Associations Amazons (the biggest patient organisation in Poland). Public scrutiny is needed because the oncological package introduces revolutionary changes concerning the whole healthcare system, beginning from the basic healthcare, through the specialist healthcare and hospital treatment, to palliative and hospice care. The changes will affect patients and medical personnel: doctors, nurses, healthcare managers and the payer. The project will result in a report, evaluation and recommendations for possible changes in functioning of the package.
Summary of project results
On January 1, 2015, in Poland, legislative changes were introduced - the so-called cancer treatment package, being the first systemic regulation changing cancer treatment in Poland. The need to supervise the functioning of the package by the Ministry of Health (MH) resulted from the fact that the package had revolutionary nature and impacted the functioning of the whole healthcare system, starting from the basic healthcare (POZ), through the specialist healthcare and hospital treatment, to palliative and hospice care. The analyses led by the MH, the National Healthcare Fund and the WHC Foundation failed to take into account the opinions of patients on the changes. No measurement was available to evaluate the package from the perspective of patients. The main aim of the project was to improve the system of cancer treatment through recognising threats, their analysis and developing recommendations on necessary enhancements in the effectiveness of the package. One of the most important activities of the project were questionnaire surveys evaluating implementation of the Fast Cancer Treatment led among patients, patient organisations, doctors and nurses. Statistical data from the National Healthcare Fund and the MH were gathered and analysed, as well as materials and reports from teams created by the MH, and opinions of the package recipients. As a result of the project, the Report from social control was prepared containing evaluation of practical functioning of the package from the perspective of patients, POZ doctors, cancer doctors and other specialists, and key areas were diagnosed requiring changes. The important achievement of the project was that two proposed changes were taken into account by the MH in the draft amendments to the Package. The changes will help to reduce administrative and bureaucratic burdens for doctors and broaden the access of patients to the „fast diagnostic path” and other services. In addition, further improvements were announced that are expected by patients, doctors and service providers. The project also enhanced dialogue between patients and the MH, and broadened their knowledge on the Package. The project partner participated in the Monitoring Team, with the help of volunteers led the questionnaire surveys among patients, actively participated in and promoted the project in their local groups and publicised the project.
Summary of bilateral results