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Description
The project concerns measures to counteract discrimination on the grounds of religion and world view in the healthcare system in Poland. This problem primarily affects people in ethnic minorities and irreligious persons. Patients are unaware of their rights with respect to freedom of conscience and religion, while people working in healthcare are not culturally sensitive and aware that certain conduct and practices may be discriminatory. Religious practices in health service facilities, religious symbols in hospitals, and lack of cultural sensitivity when serving meals or performing medical procedures, etc. are just some examples.Under the project, the Project Promoter will monitor the media and court rulings, and conduct a survey among 700 people in religious minorities on religion-based discrimination in medicine. The findings of the monitoring and survey, and recommendations for medical personnel, healthcare facility directors, operating bodies, the Ministry of Health, the Patient Ombudsman, and medical universities will be described in a report and presented at a conference. The Project Promoter will also produce two miniguides; one for physicians and medical personnel on equal treatment of patients regardless of religion, and one for patients on their rights with respect to freedom of conscience and religion. A mobile application and series of ten podcasts will be produced in the project, for medical personnel and medical students.The measures are intended primarily for health service facilities and medical personnel. They will learn about compliance with laws on freedom of conscience and religion in medicine. The project is intended to benefit religious minorities and irreligious persons. Due to the publicity around the issue, the internal procedures in medical facilities and the way they function will be discussed and reviewed, and this will increase patient comfort.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to prevent discrimination based on religion and belief in the health care system in Poland. Patients belonging to religious or ethnic minorities and non-religious people lack knowledge about their rights in the area of freedom of conscience and religion. On the other hand, health professionals lack cultural sensitivity and awareness that certain behaviours and practices may be discriminatory. Examples include religious practices on the premises of health care facilities, religious symbols in hospitals, priests visiting hospital rooms, lack of cultural sensitivity in serving meals or performing medical procedures, etc.
As part of the project, Project Promoter conducted media monitoring and court cases, as well as quantitative and qualitative research among people using public health care and/or belonging to religious minorities. The results of the monitoring and the survey, together with recommendations for medical staff, health care managements, governing bodies, the Ministry of Health, the Patient Ombudsman and medical universities, were described in a report and presented at a conference. The Project Promoter prepared 5 podcasts and produced brochures for patients and medical staff on equal treatment of patients regardless of religion and for patients on their rights in the area of freedom of conscience and religion. As part of the project, a mobile application "infoREL. Inclusive healthcare for people of all faiths''.
Activities were primarily targeted at health institutions and medical staff, raising their awareness of discrimination based on religion and belief and related irregularities in hospitals and other institutions. By raising awareness of the problem, internal procedures and ways of working in medical institutions were discussed and revised. The project benefited religious and ethnic minorities as well as non-religious people.