Operations are not postponed in cases where life is at risk or serious health damage occurs. However, when it comes to those that were previously planned, the attending physician decides whether the patient can wait until next year. This is how it is now at the University Clinical Hospital in Białystok. The reason is lack of money from the National Health Fund. As much as PLN 111 million is needed. And that's “yesterday”.
– We are trying to limit planned parties. We waive check-ups and diagnostic tests. In each individual case, it is decided whether a given patient can wait for hospitalization until the new year – says Prof. Jan Kochanowicz, director of the University Clinical Hospital in Białystok.
This largest hospital in the voivodeship is forced to postpone some planned treatments and visits until next year. The reason is the lack of money from the National Health Fund. National Health Fund I don't want to pay for benefits above the limit, and as the end of the year approaches, there are more and more such benefits.
The University Clinical Hospital in Białystok lacks money for planned surgeries TVN24
Hospital director: this is just a rollover of the problem
According to prof. Kochanowicz, arrears in payments from the National Health Fund amounted to as much as PLN 111 million at the end of October. According to him, postponing treatments and visits to next year is just “rolling over the problem.” – Because next year, the patients from November and December will be joined by those who fall ill in January – he points out, admitting that the money is needed “yesterday”.
Director of the Podlasie National Health Fund: we try to fulfill our obligations
Anna Rzemek, director of the Podlasie provincial branch, said on TVN24 that the fund “is trying to fulfill its obligations in accordance with applicable regulations.”
– The NFZ budget was supported with additional funds this year and we transfer these funds to healthcare providers – including hospitals – on an ongoing basis – she noted.
Our reporter Mateusz Grzymkowski stated on air that patients whose procedures have been postponed do not know when exactly they will be operated on. However, the hospital does not postpone surgery in cases where life is at risk or serious health damage occurs
Main photo source: TVN24