The Ministry of Health has dismissed a call for fines for accessing emergency services unnecessarily, stressing that its current segregation system efficiently categorizes patients by urgency.
Proposal for Fines
A citizen petition suggesting fines of up to 1000 zł for unnecessary ER visits, including to obtain prescriptions or x-rays for chronic conditions, was submitted to the Ministry of Health in July.
Ministry Response
Agnieszka Tuderek-Kuleta, director of the Ministry of Health’s Safety Department, emphasized that emergency rooms maintain medical segregation, where triage staff categorize patients into five levels of urgency. “Medical segregation ensures patients requiring immediate care are prioritize,” she stated.
Correct Advice from Ministry
The Ministry and NFZ urge visiting the emergency room only in the case of accidents, injuries, or sudden deterioration of health, including cardiac arrest, stroke, or circulation problems, while advising against visiting for common ailments such as the flu or indigestion.