Dear Sirs and Madams, we would like to present to you a study on patients' rights and the principles of providing healthcare services, in particular those relating to publicly funded services. The purpose of the publication is to present these issues from a practical point of view. Therefore, apart from a general presentation of individual patient rights and the principles of providing health care services, the study also includes solutions to the most common problems arising in the practice of the health care system and examples of good practice, the application of which is intended to ensure adequate respect for patient rights. In this study, direct references to specific legislation, items of literature and judicial decisions have been deliberately omitted in order to ensure full transparency of the publication. However, those who are interested will find references within each chapter to basic legislation, and at the end of the publication also to literature items, concerning patient rights and the principles of healthcare provision. We hope that this publication will help you to better understand your rights as a patient and more easily navigate the health care system in our country.
Tomasz Filarski, Tomasz Sroka
"The handbook is a presentation of basic information on the organisation of health care in Poland, the principles of providing health care services in various situations and of different types of services, the possibility of using health care services outside Poland, and the rights of the patient in his/her relations with health care institutions and employees of these institutions, medical personnel providing health care services directly. First and foremost, I must state that there is a lack of this type of study, which would be accessible to an average educated reader, who should receive information on his/her rights in the area of health care, which is so important for every citizen. Filling this gap is extremely important from the point of view of implementing the constitutional principle of a democratic state of law. In conclusion, I state that I have received for review a highly competent and complete study, which is extremely necessary for patients as well as medical personnel.(...)"
Prof. Dr. Andrzej Zoll (excerpt from a review of the textbook)