Following the amendment of the Law on 6 November 2008 on the rights of the patient and the Ombudsman (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 1318 as amended) Since last year, preparations have been underway for a regulation on the organisational standard for healthcare in pain treatment.
The amendment granted all patients the right to treat pain, thus requiring the institution to investigate its intensity and monitor its effectiveness. According to the new regulations, the patient should be asked both in the hospital and in the clinic or in the ambulance what hurts him, how much and what kind of pain it is.
The proposed changes are some kind of breakthrough, given the change in the approach of doctors and hospitals to treating pain. It is very important for the safety of patients to become aware that analgesic treatment must be provided in accordance with the safety standard and that the appropriate introduction of analgesic treatment will reduce the number of other benefits.
The Regulation will indicate the standards for pain treatment
The next stage is to be developed by the MZ, together with the Polish Society for Pain Research, a regulation standardising treatment standards. Its assumptions were presented by the Health Ministry in November, and are soon to be submitted for consultation, public consultation and opinion.
This will be an implementing act to ensure that patients' rights to treat pain at every stage of the disease are implemented. As the Polish Society for Pain Research emphasizes, this change is already causing a number of controversy, given that earlier this law was only guaranteed to people in terminal condition.
Now, health benefits related to pain treatment can be provided in basic health care, outpatient care, emergency care and hospital treatment.
According to experts, on the basis of the proposed changes, the doctor will be required to establish a pain assessment card, the pattern of which was prepared by the Polish Society for Pain Research.
Then – the completed card is intended to be part of the medical documentation, which is another major change, when it is taken into account that so far there has been no evidence in the medical documentation that the patient has been denied assistance. The model card was prepared by the Polish Society for Pain Research.
The whole course of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of pain will be based on current medical knowledge as well as guidelines and recommendations recommended by the Polish Society for Pain Research, in accordance with the implementing act of the Patient Rights Act and the Patient Rights Ombudsman.
More effective enforcement of rights
If you do not ensure that you are required by your doctor, i.e. you do not have a card, or if the card indicates that the treatment was inappropriate, you will be able to exercise your rights with the Ombudsman, as the card will enable you to verify what treatment and what type of medication you have taken.
As Deputy Minister Marek Tombarkiewicz emphasizes, this regulation is a very important document, important for all patients suffering from pain, regulating the pain treatment system in Poland. It will ensure effective implementation of the rights related to the treatment of pain, regardless of the degree of disease, sources of pain, age or whereabouts of the patient.
The Ministry also amends the Regulation on guaranteed services in the field of fuel and hospital care. In line with the World Health Organisation's assumptions, the provision of “Palactive and Hospitable Care Pain Treatment” will be replaced by the procedure “Malecting Pain as indicated by current medical knowledge, using medicines available in Poland”. This proposal meets the approval of the expert community and patients.
The proposed changes are some kind of breakthrough, given the change in the approach of doctors and hospitals to treating pain. It is very important for the safety of patients to become aware that analgesic treatment must be provided in accordance with the safety standard and that the appropriate introduction of analgesic treatment will reduce the number of other benefits.