Focusing on women's health, particularly in the area of perinatal care, Leszczyna underlined a need for rapid reform.
During a conference in Warsaw on Wednesday, she spoke about diversifying the pricing of childbirth services to ensure that women are treated with dignity and privacy during childbirth.
Leszczyna pointed out what she said was inadequate availability of perinatal anesthesia in many Polish hospitals, describing it as a "dream" rather than a reality.
Improving these services is seen as integral to the government's plan to increase birth rates in Poland, with Leszczyna asserting that prospective mothers should feel assured of comprehensive care during their pregnancy and childbirth.
Child psychiatry is another critical area of focus. Leszczyna announced the formation of a specialized team, led by the national consultant for child psychiatry, to address this issue.
The team's work will be bolstered by significant funding, to the tune of PLN 3 billion, allocated by the government to the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund (NFZ).
This funding is earmarked for investing in children's health, indicating a substantial commitment to improving mental health services for young people.
Leszczyna also highlighted other key areas such as rare diseases and oncology, reflecting the ministry's "commitment to a broad spectrum of health issues."
She criticized "the current healthcare quality law," calling it inadequate for collecting essential data needed for rational decision-making in healthcare policies.
Development of an automated system for determining medication refund levels is a significant part of the reform agenda.
Expected to be operational in 2024, this innovative system aims to alleviate the considerable administrative burden on healthcare providers. Doctors currently spend a substantial part of their consultations navigating complex refund information, a process that Leszczyna aims to streamline with the new system.
She emphasized the need for an electronic system that is easy to use, to ensure its adoption and effective use by healthcare professionals. This move is expected to allow doctors to focus more on patient care and less on bureaucratic tasks.
Leszczyna's speech, given at the Healthcare Priorities 2024 conference, lays out the immediate plans for Poland's healthcare system and reflects the government's broader vision of building a more robust, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system, state news agency PAP reported.
Officials say these initiatives represent major strides towards addressing the challenges in Poland's healthcare system – including an aging population, a need for modernization, and the provision of equitable and high-quality healthcare services to all citizens.
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Source: IAR, PAP