The Patient's Rights Charter is a document that safeguards your safety, dignity, and access to information during treatment. Familiarise yourself with your rights to actively participate in the therapy process and make informed decisions regarding your health.
The Constitution of the Republic of Poland guarantees the right to health protection and the right to equal access to healthcare services financed from public funds, under the conditions and scope specified by law (Art. 68, sections 1,2). Public authorities are responsible for ensuring citizens have equal access to healthcare services financed from public funds. The conditions and scope of providing services and the tasks of public authorities in ensuring access to them are specified in the Act of 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds. (i.e., Journal of Laws of 2008, No. 164, item 1027 with subsequent amendments).
The basic legal regulations are specified in the following acts:
- Act of 6 November 2008 on the Rights of Patients and the Patient's Rights Ombudsman (i.e., Journal of Laws of 2012, item 159)
- Act of 24 April 2009 introducing the Act on the Rights of Patients and the Patient's Rights Ombudsman, the Act on Accreditation in Healthcare, and the Act on Consultants in Healthcare (Journal of Laws of 2009, No. 76, item 641)
- Act of 19 August 1994 on Mental Health Protection (i.e., Journal of Laws of 2011, No. 231, item 1375)
Additional information on patient rights is available on the pages:
Extract from the Patient's Rights Charter
- The Patient has the right to healthcare services provided with due diligence, meeting the requirements of current medical knowledge.
- The Patient has the right to use a reliable, medically-based waiting list in situations of limited access to healthcare services.
- The Patient has the right to request a second opinion.
- Every patient using healthcare services financed from public funds has the right to choose a doctor, nurse, midwife, medical facility providing services under a contract with the NFZ, and in the case of hospital treatment, any hospital with an NFZ contract throughout Poland.
- The Patient has the right to information about their rights, the type and scope of services provided by a given provider, their health condition, and the right to decline receiving information.
- The Patient, including a minor who has reached the age of 16, has the right to give informed consent to receive healthcare services.
- The Patient has the right to refuse or demand the cessation of a service.
- The Patient has the right to confidentiality.
- The Patient has the right to respect for privacy and dignity.
- The Patient has the right to die with dignity.
- The Patient has the right to the presence of a close person during the provision of healthcare services.
- The Patient has the right to access medical documentation concerning their health condition and the healthcare services provided to them.
- The Patient has the right to store valuables in a deposit.
- The Patient has the right to object to a doctor's opinion or decision.
- The Patient has the right to respect for private and family life.
- The Patient has the right to pastoral care.
- Observing and respecting patient rights is one of the fundamental duties of the service provider.
