The Polish government has presented a final draft of the “Lex Szarlatan” bill, aiming to eliminate fraudulent medical practitioners and dangerous, unverified treatments.
Government Cracks Down on Pseudomedicine
The government has unveiled the final draft of “Lex Szarlatan” (Charlatan Law), designed to remove false doctors and dangerous, “miraculous” therapies from the Polish market. The new regulations include financial penalties and provide the Patient Rights Ombudsman with powerful tools to combat medical disinformation.
Bill Approved by Council of Ministers
The Committee of the Council of Ministers approved the draft amendment to the Act on Patients’ Rights and the Patient Rights Ombudsman, known as “Lex Szarlatan.” The bill was prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, following consultations with over 120 organizations and thousands of submitted comments.
Protecting Patients from Harmful Practices
The Ministry of Health states the new legislation aims to better protect citizens from pseudomedical practices that pose a threat to their health and lives. Minister of Health Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda emphasized the state’s obligation to protect patients from misleading information and exploitation.
Key Provisions of the New Law
The planned changes primarily address two key issues: eliminating practitioners without proper qualifications and halting the promotion of unproven “miraculous” therapies. The new regulations will allow for the elimination of practices in Poland that falsely claim therapeutic effects or advertise services as healthcare provisions when they are ineffective or harmful.
Amendments Made During Legislative Process
Significant changes were introduced during the legislative process, including revisions to some controversial provisions. The bill will now proceed to debate.
Impact on Pseudomedicine
If adopted, the legislation could significantly change the fight against pseudomedicine in Poland and make it more difficult for individuals profiting from “miraculous” treatment methods to operate.
