Publicly funded colonoscopies under anesthesia require specific medical criteria, not patient preference, with decisions made by specialists, not primary care doctors.
Colonoscopy Under Anesthesia Doesn’t Depend on a Referral from a Primary Care Doctor
Many patients believe requesting a referral from their family doctor is sufficient. This is incorrect. While a primary care physician can issue a referral for a colonoscopy, they do not determine the form of anesthesia.
Whether the procedure will be performed under general anesthesia is decided by a specialist—typically a gastroenterologist or the doctor performing the examination—after conducting an interview and analyzing medical records. This is the key decision point: standard examination or colonoscopy under sedation.
When Is a Colonoscopy Under General Anesthesia Entitled
Colonoscopy under anesthesia is publicly funded only when there are specific medical indications. It’s not about comfort, but about safety and actual risk of complications.
Doctors primarily consider three groups of criteria. In clinical practice, this is a closed catalog. A patient’s subjective belief that they can’t undergo the procedure without anesthesia is usually insufficient.
Why NFZ Doesn’t Approve Colonoscopy Under Anesthesia “on Request”
General anesthesia requires an anesthesiologist, additional staff, medications, and patient monitoring. This increases the procedure’s cost and imposes greater physical strain than a standard colonoscopy. Therefore, the National Health Fund finances such an examination only when lack of anesthesia could lead to complications.
In practice, this means two people with the same referral may receive completely different decisions—everything depends on their medical history.
Patient Fears Colonoscopy. Is That Enough for Anesthesia?
Fear of colonoscopy is not dismissed, but it must be real and clinically significant. The doctor assesses whether the patient’s fear genuinely prevents the examination’s completion or if it can be managed through other methods, such as pharmacological sedation. Only when concerns are strong enough to threaten the procedure’s success may they become grounds for general anesthesia.
Colorectal Cancer Prevention Program. Who Can Benefit from Colonoscopy Without a Referral
A separate pathway is the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, implemented throughout Poland. This is one of the key prevention programs funded with public money.
The program is directed to individuals who meet specific age and risk criteria.
What Exactly Does a Colonoscopy in the NFZ Prevention Program Include
Within the program, patients receive not just the endoscopic examination of the colon. The scope of services is broad and includes therapeutic measures. In practice, the program provides: taking biopsies from suspicious lesions, removing polyps up to 15mm, histopathological examination of all collected materials, and providing specific recommendations for further treatment or monitoring.
Can a Colonoscopy in the Prevention Program Be Under Anesthesia
Yes, but under the same rules as outside the program. Participation in screening does not automatically guarantee anesthesia. However, if a patient meets medical criteria, the examining doctor makes the decision. The preventive program does not exclude the right to general anesthesia, but neither does it guarantee it.
What to Do When a Patient Disagrees with a Doctor’s Decision Against Anesthesia
If a patient believes that denial of colonoscopy under general anesthesia violates their rights, they can request a second opinion from another specialist or contact the Patient Ombudsman. Each case is evaluated individually, with medical documentation being crucial.