Description
The goal of the project is to ensure public scrutiny over the implementation of the National Mental Health Program by the Health Ministry, to make an assessment of the Program and to develop recommendations for change in the medium term. The project is a response to the challenges faced by mental patients as a result of an ineffective implementation of the Program by the Health Ministry. The goal of the project is to ensure public scrutiny over the implementation of the National Mental Health Program by the Health Ministry, to make a detailed assessment of the Program and to propose legislative and policy solutions to improve the quality of psychiatric care in Poland. The scrutiny will be exercised in collaboration with patients' organisations and in partnership with the Win Health Foundation (Fundacja Wygrajmy Zdrowie). The support from the Partner contributing vast experience in implementing systemic projects, watchdog activities and advocacy with decision-makers will add value to the project.
Summary of project results
"In December 2010, an effort was undertaken to introduce a reform in Polish psychiatry and to implement the National Programme for Mental Health Protection for the years 2011-2015 (NPOZP). One of the main objectives of the Programme was to provide persons with mental disorders with comprehensive and easily accessible healthcare services. But the progress in implementing NPOZP was not satisfactory - its implementation, in view of the scale of the problem in both social and economic terms, did not bring expected results. The aim of the project was the social control over the modalities of implementation of NPOZP by the Ministry of Health (MH), analysis of the system and developing conclusions and proposing changes to improve psychiatric healthcare in Poland in the following years. As a result of the implementation of the project, recommendations for changes in NPOZP for the years 2016-2020 were developed which were taken into account during preparation of the new document. The organisation also succeeded to include groups interested in mental healthcare (doctors and organisations representing patients) in the works led by the Ministry of Health. The ""Civic Coalition for Mental Health"" and the Monitoring Team, gathering representatives of patient groups, doctors, experts in mental healthcare and health regulations, were created. Based on the available sources and the results of questionnaire surveys, the existing NPOZP was analysed. The main project report titled ""National Programme for Mental Health Protection for 2016-2020 - recommendations"" was forwarded to the Ministry of Health and broadly publicised among doctors, municipalities, organisations and media. Intensive advocacy activities were undertaken which helped to retain the NPOZP in the amended act on mental health protection. Implementation of the recommended changes will benefit all patients with mental health problems, their families, doctors, and general public. The project was implemented in partnership with the ""Let's Win Health"" Foundation, an organisation experienced in watchdog activities which contributed their expertise to the project (participation in the Monitoring Team), helped to contact decision-makers, patient groups and doctors, and promoted the project in social media."
Summary of bilateral results