1. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Professional self-government of physicians in Poland national report Konstanty Radziwill Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, Vicepresident Cracow, 30 September - 1 October 2011

2. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Chambers of Physicians and Dentists in Poland Public law entities – organisational bodies of professional self-government. Represent and associate two professions: all medical doctors and all dental practitioners. Organizational structure: - -Polish (Supreme) Chamber of Physicians and Dentists - -23 regional chambers, 1 chamber of military physicians and dentists

3. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Chambers of Physicians and Dentists in Poland Regulatory authorities awarding the right to practice Setting principles of professional ethics Supervision over professional conduct Disciplinary proceedings (medical courts) Accreditation and supervision over Continuing Professional Development Representation and protection of the profession (e.g. mandatory opinions on draft legislation and health issues)

4. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Main developments over the recent period Law on the chambers of physicians and dentists – adopted on 2 December 2009, in force since 1 January 2010. - draft elaborated mainly by the chambers - replaces the former act of 1989 - no major changes regarding the scope of tasks and activities of the professional self-government - regulations important from the practical point of view to facilitate activities of the self-government - more detailed regulation of disciplinary proceedings

5. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Main developments over the recent period Law on medicines reimbursment – adopted on 12 May 2011, in force since 1 January 2012 - high penalties for doctors for prescription mistakes and prescribing for uninsured patients

6. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Main developments over the recent period Law on medical activities – adopted on 15 April 2011, in force since 1 July 2011 - regulates setting up and functioning of facilities providing healthcare in Poland - applies to all public and private facilities, including physicians exercising profession in a self-employed capacity, and to all kinds of healthcare services - introduces one common register of healthcare facilities (incl. individual and group practices of physicians) - supports commercialization and does not exclude privatization of public hospitals

7. Main developments over the recent period 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians

8. Main developments over the recent period Law on patients’ rights – amendments adopted on 28 April 2011, in force since 1 January 2012 - introduces an out-of-court system of compensation for patients harmed during the diagnostic or therapeutic activities of hospitals - an undefined term „medical event” (to be interpreted and decided by specially set up commissions with 50 % lay members) instead of „medical injury” is used as a basis for compensation - the new system has in fact little to do with no-fault compensation systems – despite declaring so

9. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Chamber’s motion to the Constitutional Court  Polish physicians and dentists are of the opinion that the lack of proper definition of the scope of healthcare services that patients are entitled to within the frame of the general health insurance is unconstitutional  On 2 September 2011 the Supreme Medical Council decided to file a motion to the Polish Constitutional Court to review the regulations of the general health insurance in Poland

10. 18th Symposium of the Central and East European Chambers of Physicians Thank you very much for your attention www.nil.org.pl