Every patient in Poland has numerous rights, including the right to health care services, but also the right to receive information on his or her state of health and the available treatment methods.
These issues are governed by the 2008 Act on patients’ rights and the Commissioner for Patients’ Rights, the Polish Constitution, and the Act on health care services financed with public funds and on medical activity.
If a patient finds that his/her rights are not observed, he or she may file a complaint concerning the provision of health care services covered by the National Health Fund with the headquarters or a branch of the NHF.
Patients can file complaints against the unsatisfactory observance of their right to health care with the Commissioner for Patients’ Rights, the Screener for Professional Liability at the Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, and the Screener for Professional Liability at the Regional Chamber of Nurses and Midwives.
The basic right – the right to health care services
One of the basic patient rights is the right to health care services provided with due diligence. Such services must satisfy the requirements of current medical knowledge. In the case of doubts, patients may seek the opinion of a different doctor or call for the assembly of a case conference.
In life-threatening situations, patients are entitled to immediate provision of health care services.
All patients are guaranteed the right to choose their general health care physician, nurse, and midwife, specialist within ambulatory health care, dentist, and any hospital throughout Poland – as part of hospitalisation services.
In the event of limited access to health care services, the patients are entitled to enter a genuine waiting list, which is based on medical criteria.
The right to information
Patients are entitled to receive information on the type and scope of the services provided by the healthcare provider. They are also entitled to the information on the state of their health, diagnosis, conducted or planned treatment, potential consequences and prognoses. This information must be comprehensible.
Patients also decide on who receives what information on their state of health, prognoses, and test results. Such information cannot be provided to anyone without the consent of the patient or his/her legal guardians.
Furthermore, patients are entitled to inspect medical documentation on the state of their health and health care services they received.
The right to decide on whether to undergo treatment
Patients aged 15 and under can only take advantage of the services with the consent and in the presence of their parents or guardians and cannot take any decisions regarding the treatment.
After turning 16, patients are entitled to consent to the provision of health care services. They may also refuse the services or request the discontinuation of provided services.
Patients are entitled to file an objection against a medical assessment or certificate with the Commissioner for Patient Rights.
The right to intimacy, dignity and private life
Persons providing health care services are obliged to act in such a way as to respect patients’ right to intimacy and dignity.
Patients are also entitled to have someone close with them during the provision of a medical service; however, the physician or nurse may deny this request, for instance to preserve the health safety of patients.
During hospitalisation, patients are entitled to personal, telephone, or correspondence communication with other individuals, but are also entitled to refuse such communication.
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