The Polish government is expediting the development of an electronic patient card as part of its e-health legislation, aiming to secure 3 billion zlotys in digital health funding from the EU.
Poland is advancing its e-health legislation to implement an electronic national and cross-border patient card that will include vital medical information, serving as Poland's version of the EU's Patient Summary. The proposal is under accelerated consultation, emphasizing the urgent need for legislative changes as the government seeks to unlock significant funding for health digitization from the Krajowy Plan Odbudowy (KPO). This legislation aims to streamline healthcare delivery and reduce medical errors, especially in critical situations.
The new patient card is designed to be automatically generated and will include crucial details such as blood type, allergies, chronic illnesses, and medications. One of the key innovations is that it might not require separate patient consent for access in certain circumstances, potentially enhancing the efficiency of emergency medical responses. The government's rapid move to finalize this law is critical for Poland to leverage EU funds aimed at advancing digital health technologies, which include IT systems and artificial intelligence tools.
The implications of these changes are profound as they could enhance patient safety and efficiency in healthcare provision. Additionally, with the backing of EU funding, Poland is positioning itself to improve its healthcare infrastructure significantly. However, the announcement raises questions about data privacy and the extent of information shared without explicit consent, an area that requires careful consideration as the implementation progresses.
