More money for transplants. Health Minister Adam Niedzielski on plans for its reconstruction in Poland

In addition to the Minister of Health, the press conference was also attended by Marcin Martyniak, Deputy Minister responsible for investments in the Ministry of Health, as well as Professor Michal Grot, Head of the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery of the University. Clinical Center of the Warsaw Medical University (WUM).

Special solutions to improve public health

During the conference, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski noted that the government has so far offered many different solutions to improve the health of the population after the pandemic period, when treatment options and access to medical care were very limited.

“We started with prevention for 40+. From encouraging all of you to such a balance of health after the pandemic, which would not be a prerequisite, there would be an occasion to take care of your health again step by step. Recently, we have also implemented many solutions, starting with the removal of restrictions on access to specialists. We build special networks, for example, in oncology and cardiology. We have expanded the possibilities of conducting tests in primary health care by introducing the idea of ​​coordination, that is, the management of patients also by specialists at the level of primary health care,” emphasized Adam Niedzielski.

Investments in the development of transplant medicine is to accelerate the recovery of society in the post-pandemic era.

What is the current situation with transplant medicine in Poland?

The pandemic has led to a decrease in the number of transplant procedures performed. Currently, we are recording some growth in these values, but we have not yet managed to “return” to the level of 2019. These trends are observed both in the category of transplants from deceased and living donors.

One of the most important actions to improve the situation with donor transplantation so far has been the creation of a network of transplant coordinators, that is, people who identify potential organ donors. Recently, new “institutions” have also been introduced. This is the recipient coordinator. He provides the transplant recipient with comprehensive care throughout the transplant process.

More money for transplants

The government planned to continue the program for the development of transplant medicine, which was in effect in 2011-2022, and, as the Minister of Health noted, the budget for the implementation of its assumptions was doubled. In total, this will amount to 1 billion zł. Part of the funds will be transferred from European funds. Co-financing was provided to projects worth between PLN 5 and 20 million. The money can be used for various purposes depending on the needs of individual centers (department development, additional equipment for diagnostic laboratories, etc.).

The above funds will also be used to transport organs for transplantation (cars for transplant teams, ambulances, ambulances). This will not only improve patient comfort or the quality of individual services. The transplant potential will also increase. Acceleration of the implementation of transplantation procedures will be possible, among other things, thanks to the cooperation of individual medical centers.

New perspectives in Polish transplantology?

The main challenge facing the transplant community in Poland is to increase the number of deceased donors identified, as well as the number of harvested organs.

“The last months in Poland have been a significant and significant development of liver transplantation. We have managed to implement at the Medical University of Warsaw all the most modern methods of treating organs taken from deceased donors available in the world, so that we can use for transplantation almost all organs that we can take from deceased donors,” said Professor Michal. Grotto.

Among other things, methods such as: treatment of organs under conditions of hypothermia (very low temperatures) or perfusion under normothermia conditions (“revitalization” of an organ outside the body of the recipient) were introduced. Doctors also know how to divide the liver, which saves more lives. Professor Gront also drew attention to the problem of organ harvesting from living people. Currently, the procedure is performed using a laparoscope, which increases the safety of donation.

Who is the fifth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for?

The conference also addressed the issue of vaccination against COVID-19. At night, referrals for the fifth dose of the vaccine will be issued. Their number will be 1,700,000. Vaccination applies to people who:

• received a monovalent vaccine,

• over 60 years old,

• have a weakened immune system

• work in medical institutions (practice of medical professions).