Nearly PLN 2 billion was spent as part of the National Cancer Control Programme but patients still wait too long for the start of radiotherapy, too few women use the opportunity to have mammography and cytology. Also, the cancer detection and treatment ratios are still much worse than the average European values. The Programme failed to make the expected breakthrough in the cancer control system which remains fragmentary and lacks coordination.
Director of NIK’s Health Department Piotr Wasilewski about National Cancer Control Programme
National Cancer Control Programme
On the other hand, the Programme investments helped significantly improve hospital equipment. At the moment it operates smoothly and efficiently. 13 years ago 5 patients were burnt by defective radiotherapy equipment. Considering the equipment quality nowadays such cases should never happen again. From 2005 to 2013, some PLN 1 billion was spent on specialist equipment purchases which helped increase the number of accelerators from 70 to 123. Also, the number of patients undergoing radiotherapy doubled from 40 to 80 thousand.
As part of the Programme screening tests for the most dangerous types of cancer (e.g. cervix or breast cancer) were arranged. Patients have the right to have basic tests done and if the results are alarming they are referred to further examinations. The system also makes it possible to monitor patients and remind them of doctor’s appointments.
Unfortunately, a serious weakness of the cancer control system is its fragmentariness. The diagnosis is still not properly coordinated with medical treatment afterwards. Patients still wait too long for chemo- or radiotherapy which translates into lower effectiveness of the treatment. The lack of cooperation among medical units is also problematic.
Another issue is the number of women going for preventive health examinations. It is still very small. However, already in the course of the audit measures were taken to change the situation – the letter of invitation was changed and alternative methods of reaching patients were looked for. The Minister of Health also changed the Ordinance on guaranteed benefits under health prevention programmes. This is the reason why from 2014 the material for cytology may be collected by midwives. This should facilitate contacts with female patients and encourage them to have cytology done more frequently as part of the Programme.
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