Poland's Health Ministry Plans Central E-Queue for Hospitals Amid Expert Skepticism

Poland's Ministry of Health is proposing a central electronic queue system to bring greater transparency to planned hospital procedures and combat preferential treatment. The initiative, dubbed "central e-queue," aims to streamline patient registration and reduce the risk of patients being admitted based on connections rather than medical need.

However, experts are raising concerns about the system's potential effectiveness. Professor Piotr Czauderna, an advisor to the president, supports central registration for specialist appointments and diagnostics but is skeptical about a single queue for all hospital procedures. He highlights the complexity of scheduling surgeries, which depends on doctor availability, team composition, patient conditions, and sudden schedule changes. Czauderna also points out that patient cancellations can be frequent, sometimes affecting up to 20-30% of planned pediatric patients daily.

Dr. Maria Libura, an expert at the Polish Economic Network, believes the e-queue might improve transparency but won't necessarily increase access to treatment. She argues that while patients might be assured their spot won't be taken by someone with connections, they may still not receive care at the optimal time. Libura emphasizes the need for "controlled flexibility," where a freed-up slot goes to the patient who would benefit most from earlier treatment, based on clear medical criteria and oversight.

The reform is a response to recent reports of abuses, including VIP lounges and informal patient lists. The proposed system is intended to show a patient's position in the queue, available appointment slots, and the facilities offering the quickest procedures. The implementation of this new system is anticipated by the end of the year.