We are trying to reach a consensus on prescription limits, and we will probably reach an agreement soon, Deputy Health Minister Maciej Miłkowski said in the Sejm.
From July 3, there will be limits on the number of patients to whom a doctor prescribes and the number of prescriptions dispensed.
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Within 10 hours of work, a doctor can see up to 80 patients for whom he will prescribe, and the number of prescriptions prescribed in a ten-hour work cycle cannot exceed 300. These solutions are – as the Ministry of Health justifies – intended to prevent misuse.
The Secretary of State answered a question from Katarzyna Lubnauer (KO) about this solution in the Sejm. The MP said he understood the need to limit the operation of prescription machines, but what was done was to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Instead of creating a system that would allow the operation of prescription machines to be restricted in a way that violates all legal principles, an administrative restriction on the writing of prescriptions was introduced
– she said.
She asked what is the legal basis for the solutions and why they were introduced without consulting the medical community.
Deputy Minister Maciej Miłkowski stated that the ministry “has been in talks with the relevant authorities of the medical chamber for quite some time”. He expressed his appreciation for the fact that the Medical Ethics Committee already adopted a position on commercial online prescriptions and dispensations in February.
Among other things, it pointed out that a misinterpretation of the rules in force in the field of telemedicine is the commercial provision of waivers and prescriptions online upon request.
The Medical Ethics Committee of the NRL, after a detailed analysis of many examples of paid prescription and waiver services offered on the Internet, critically assessed, among other things, this phenomenon in situations where it was sufficient to receive them by completing a short questionnaire filling that did not meet the interview criteria and suggested symptoms to the patient, and also when the procedure of receiving the document is initiated by making a payment.
Professional responsibility
The position of the committee indicated that doctors who deliver prescriptions and benefits in accordance with the described procedure expose themselves to professional liability, eg due to a violation of the Code of Medical Ethics.
We collaborated with the medical chamber and showed the data of individual doctors who wrote the most prescriptions, along with the spread of their implementation across Poland. This information was provided on an ongoing basis. This cooperation is getting better and worse. We try to eliminate pathologies as quickly as possible
said the secretary of state.
To reach a consensus, we chose a very liberal solution. Previously, when health insurance funds or the National Health Fund (NFZ) established that there are 15 minutes per patient for advice, four patients per hour, there was criticism that it was so short. The latest regulations have established that there is seven and a half minutes, and there must also be a health and safety break for the doctor
he continued.
80 visits per day is about seven and a half minutes per patient. (…) The Medical Profession Act states that a doctor provides his services on the basis of an examination. It should be a physical examination, a subjective examination, a collected interview
he continued.
Miłkowski explained that a solution of 80 patients per day, no more than 300 prescriptions, was adopted.
We have analyzed the situation very closely since July 3, when the new system was implemented. There were then 311 people who wanted to cross this limit, a doctor had about 1,200 attempts per day
– he gave.
There are pathologies. We try to eliminate them. The Medical Chamber and the Ministry of Health have the same goal, maybe sometimes we have different resources, maybe sometimes these resources are too strong. (…) We have signals from general practitioners. (…) We are trying to reach a consensus. (…) In my opinion, we will probably come to an agreement soon
said the secretary of state.
Referring to the issue of the legal basis for the limits, Miłkowski pointed out that the systems are there to ensure patient safety.
Medications not only work positively, but also have side effects. The doctor must deliberately write a prescription. (…) It is not written anywhere whether a doctor has the right to examine a patient every second. (…) The Code for Medical Deontology and the Medical Profession Act state that the doctor is obliged to examine the patient
he noticed.
Overinterpretation
Reports of plans to withdraw the limit of 80 patients and 300 prescriptions within 10 hours are over-interpreted. No plans for today
– reported the Ministry of Health.
From July 3, there will be limits on the number of patients to whom a doctor prescribes and the number of prescriptions dispensed.
Within 10 hours of work, a doctor can see up to 80 patients for whom he will prescribe, and the number of prescriptions prescribed in a ten-hour work cycle cannot exceed 300. These solutions are – as the Ministry of Health justifies – intended to prevent misuse.
Abolishing the limit of 80 patients and 300 prescriptions over 10 hours is an overinterpretation of Minister Miłkowski’s words. No plans for today
– the Ministry of Health reported on Twitter and added the RMF FM material.
We can see that the restriction works where it should, namely on the so-called prescription machines. It is normal that we analyze data from the system
reported the resort.
The station reported that the ministry would withdraw from the absolute limit of 300 prescriptions per day for each doctor. In an interview with a reporter from RMF FM, the Secretary of State for Health would announce changes in this area.
Responding to questions from MPs in the Sejm, he stressed that the ministry wanted to eliminate pathologies associated with writing prescriptions.
We’re trying to reach a consensus on prescription limits, we’ll probably reach an agreement soon
– he said.
We have analyzed the situation very closely since July 3, when the new system was implemented
he pointed it out.
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Mon/PAP
Source: wPolityce