The above is the conclusion of the discussion "Consequences of Covid-19 - what needs to be changed in the health care system?", during the Economic Forum in Karpacz. Experts discussed how the health care system is changing under the present critical situation, whether the system is likely to recover from the pandemic and if it had come up with some new solutions.
Adam Niedzielski, the minister of health, pointed out that during the pandemic some important decisions were made, which often did not fit into the norms that had existed before. - Difficult decisions had to be made, such as limiting the number of medical treatments. We had to be courageous and flexible while taking action, there was a huge emotional load which everyone experienced in a different way and with which everyone had to cope - said Minister Niedzielski.
Bartłomiej Chmielowiec, the commissioner for patients' rights, noted that the pandemic was the most difficult time for patients. As per Bartłomiej Chmielowiec, in 2020, the largest number of calls that were received from patients was about primary health care, problems with getting through to medical centres and booking appointments.
The pandemic was not only a test of knowledge but also an organisational challenge for health care entities.
Paweł Ptaszyński, the director of the Central Clinical Hospital in Łódź, pointed out that the pandemic forced the management of hospitals to work very hard when it came to digitisation. - For the directors of hospitals, it was also an important test of which areas of operations worked well and which did not. After all, hospitals took over a huge burden of care for covid patients - emphasised Paweł Ptaszyński.
