The Importance of Medical Organisations in Europe The role of professional self- government (chambers of physicians and dentists) in Poland Dr. Maciej

The Importance of Medical The Importance of Medical Organisations in EuropeOrganisations in Europe

The role of professional self-The role of professional self-government (chambers of physicians government (chambers of physicians

and dentists) in Polandand dentists) in Poland

Dr. Maciej HamankiewiczDr. Maciej HamankiewiczPresidentPresident

Polish Supreme Chamber Polish Supreme Chamber of Physicians and Dentistsof Physicians and Dentists

Bratislava, 25 September 2010Bratislava, 25 September 2010


ContentsContents

Organization of the professional self-government Organization of the professional self-government of physicians and dentists in Polandof physicians and dentists in Poland

Regulatory tasks and activities of the chambers Regulatory tasks and activities of the chambers - licensing, - licensing, - professional liability, - professional liability, - continuing medical education)- continuing medical education)

Represantation of the interests of the Represantation of the interests of the professionsprofessions


Chambers of Physicians and Chambers of Physicians and Dentists in PolandDentists in Poland

Public law organisations of professional self-government (Law on the medical chambers)

Represent and associate two professions:all (129.241)129.241) medical doctors and all (35.231) 35.231) dental

practitioners

Organizational structure:- Polish (Supreme) Chamber of Physicians and Dentists- 23 regional chambers, 1 chamber of military physicians

and dentists


The right to practice the The right to practice the profession in Polandprofession in Poland

The right to practice the profession of a The right to practice the profession of a physician or dental practitioner is in Poland physician or dental practitioner is in Poland awarded by a regional (or military) chamberawarded by a regional (or military) chamber

Conditions to be fulfilled Conditions to be fulfilled for the award of the right for the award of the right to practice are laid down in the Law on the to practice are laid down in the Law on the professions of a physician and a dentistprofessions of a physician and a dentist

Conditions for the award of the right to practice Conditions for the award of the right to practice relate to: citizenship, professional qualifications, relate to: citizenship, professional qualifications, impeccable ethical attitude, appropriate healthimpeccable ethical attitude, appropriate health


Register of physicians and Register of physicians and denitstsdenitsts

The chambers are by law entitled to run a The chambers are by law entitled to run a register of physicians and dentists which register of physicians and dentists which

contains data regtarding those professionals.contains data regtarding those professionals.

regional (and military) chambers run regional registersregional (and military) chambers run regional registers on the basis of regional registers a Central Register of on the basis of regional registers a Central Register of

Physicians and Dentists is runPhysicians and Dentists is run

The Central Register holds information about The Central Register holds information about every physician and dentist who has or had in every physician and dentist who has or had in the past the right to practice the profession in the past the right to practice the profession in

Poland.Poland.


Recognition of professional Recognition of professional qualifications in the EUqualifications in the EU

The chambers are the competent authorities The chambers are the competent authorities in Poland within the meaning of EU law on in Poland within the meaning of EU law on recognition of qualifications of physicians recognition of qualifications of physicians

and dentists:and dentists:

recognize professional qualifications obtained in recognize professional qualifications obtained in other EU Member Statesother EU Member States

issue certificates for Polish doctors/dentistsissue certificates for Polish doctors/dentists

act as information centresact as information centres


Individual and group medical Individual and group medical (dental) practices(dental) practices

A physician or dentist who wants to run an A physician or dentist who wants to run an individual or group practice must individual or group practice must

register it with the regional chamber.register it with the regional chamber.

Chambers:Chambers: checkcheck fulfilment of the requirements specified fulfilment of the requirements specified by by

law (premises, technical and sanitary regulations)law (premises, technical and sanitary regulations) run registers of medical and dental practicesrun registers of medical and dental practices supervise the activities of the practices (may supervise the activities of the practices (may

conduct inspections etc.)conduct inspections etc.)


Medical Code of EthicsMedical Code of Ethics

The General Assembly of the Polish The General Assembly of the Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists Chamber of Physicians and Dentists adopts the Medical Code of Ethics.adopts the Medical Code of Ethics.

The Medical Code of Ethics is by virtue of The Medical Code of Ethics is by virtue of the law binding for all physicians and the law binding for all physicians and

dentists in Poland and its breach may be dentists in Poland and its breach may be a basis for disciplinary action.a basis for disciplinary action.


Disciplinary proceedingsDisciplinary proceedingsBasis of professional liability:

- conduct contrary to the rules of ethics and professional deontology

- breach of legal regulations on exercising the profession.

Medical disciplinary courts:

- regional medical courts,

- Supreme Medical Court.

Members of medical courts are elected at the Regional and Supreme Assemblies among members of the chamber.


Disciplinary proceedingsDisciplinary proceedings

Medical court may impose:Medical court may impose: warning;warning; reprimand;reprimand; financial sanction;financial sanction; suspension of the suspension of the rightright to practice for a period of to practice for a period of 1 1 to to 5 5

years; years; deprivation of the deprivation of the rightright to practice. to practice.

Against the judgment of a regional medical court an Against the judgment of a regional medical court an appeal may be filed in the Supreme Medical Court; appeal may be filed in the Supreme Medical Court; against the judgment of the Supreme Medical Court against the judgment of the Supreme Medical Court

the punished physician or dentist may appeal the the punished physician or dentist may appeal the Supreme Court.Supreme Court.


Continuing Professional Continuing Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

Physicians and dentists in Poland are by Physicians and dentists in Poland are by law required to take active part in continuing law required to take active part in continuing medical development.medical development.A credit points system is applied - 200 A credit points system is applied - 200 points have to be collected in a period of points have to be collected in a period of every 4 years.every 4 years.CPD may be conducted in the form of CPD may be conducted in the form of various events regulated by law and the various events regulated by law and the points are awarded according to the scale. points are awarded according to the scale.


Continuing Professional Continuing Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

The chambers play an important role in CPD:The chambers play an important role in CPD:

1. Register CPD providers;1. Register CPD providers;

2. Accredit CPD events;2. Accredit CPD events;

3. Supervise CPD events;3. Supervise CPD events;

4. Confirm and register the credit points collected 4. Confirm and register the credit points collected by professionals.by professionals.

In addition, Chambers themselves provide CPD eventsIn addition, Chambers themselves provide CPD events


Chambers as representatives of Chambers as representatives of physicians and dentistsphysicians and dentists

One of the main tasks of the professional self-One of the main tasks of the professional self-

government is to represent and protect the government is to represent and protect the

profession.profession.

- expression of opinions on draft legislation and health issues expression of opinions on draft legislation and health issues

(obligation for public authorities to ask for opinion)(obligation for public authorities to ask for opinion)

- integration of the medical professionals (meetings, excursions, integration of the medical professionals (meetings, excursions,

sporting events)sporting events)

- social assistance for the medical professionalssocial assistance for the medical professionals

- co-operation with scientific organizations and medical universitiesco-operation with scientific organizations and medical universities


Performance of regulatory tasks Performance of regulatory tasks and representation of the and representation of the

profession’s interestsprofession’s interestsThe professional self-government in Poland is at the The professional self-government in Poland is at the same time performing public tasks as a regulatory same time performing public tasks as a regulatory authority for the profession and acting as a representative authority for the profession and acting as a representative of the profession in the interest s of the professionalsof the profession in the interest s of the professionals

It is important, although not always easy, to give enough It is important, although not always easy, to give enough attention to both spheres of activity so that regulation of attention to both spheres of activity so that regulation of

the profession is secured and the interests of our the profession is secured and the interests of our profession are well representedprofession are well represented


Thank you very much for your Thank you very much for your attentionattention

www.nil.org.pl

http://www.nil.org.pl/

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The Importance of Medical Organisations in Europe The role of professional self- government (chambers of physicians and dentists) in Poland Dr. Maciej