Health

Health Policy Programsa

Regional health conference of public healthCurrently implemented health policy programs:

​ Target group:

1. Regional rehabilitation program for individuals with depressive disorders
   Target group: adults aged 18-65 with mood disorder issues, including patients diagnosed with: depressive episode (F32) and recurrent depressive disorder (F33), who are currently not receiving similar services covered by health insurance.
   Implementing body: Poznański Ośrodek Zdrowia Psychicznego (Poznań Mental Health Center) in Poznań, os. Kosmonautów 110, Poznań, tel. 61 820 33 23, 61 828 96 54, 61 827 73 70, 61 827 73 76
2. Health policy program for the prevention and early detection of osteoporosis for residents of the Wielkopolska Region
   • Women aged ≥ 65,
   • Women aged 40-64 with at least one additional risk factor for osteoporotic fracture, i.e.: endocrine disorders (hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's syndrome [hypercortisolism], hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, type 1 diabetes, endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, hypogonadism [primary and secondary], tumor secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein [PTHrP], Addison's disease); gastrointestinal diseases (malabsorption or digestive disorders [mainly celiac disease], post-gastrectomy or post-bowel resection status, status post-bariatric surgery, inflammatory bowel diseases [Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis], chronic liver diseases with or without cholestasis [especially primary biliary cholangitis in women], parenteral nutrition); renal diseases (nephropathies with calcium and phosphorus wasting, nephrotic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, especially during renal replacement therapy); rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis); respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], cystic fibrosis); bone marrow and blood disorders (multiple myeloma, myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, hemophilia, systemic mastocytosis, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis); hypervitaminosis A; status post-organ transplantation (kidneys, lungs, heart, hematopoietic cells, liver) – mainly drug-induced; medications: glucocorticoids (GKS), high-dose thyroid hormones, anticonvulsants (phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine), heparin (especially unfractionated), vitamin K antagonists, cyclosporine, high-dose immunosuppressive drugs and other antimetabolites, bile acid sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) modulators, thiazolidinedione derivatives (pioglitazone), tamoxifen (in premenopausal women), aromatase inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antiretroviral drugs; immobilization; previous fractures; sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function associated with the aging process or co-existing diseases),
   • Men aged ≥ 75 (once the target female population is fully covered).
     ​Implementing bodies:
     • OsteoDENS, ul. Medyczna 6, Piła, tel. 665 888 646
     • Hospital Investment Group Diagnostyka Sp. z o.o., ul. Kasprzaka 16, Poznań, tel. 61 627 07 04,
     • Wielkopolski Ośrodek Reumatologiczny im. dr. Wiesława Romanowskiego in Śrem ((Dr. Wiesław Romanowski Wielkopolska Rheumatology Center), ul. Adama Mickiewicza 95, Śrem, tel.  61 22 46 396,
     • Cogito Med sp. z o.o., ul. Fryderyka Chopina 20, Kalisz, tel. 800 808 006,
     • Moja Diagnoza Polska Sp. z o.o., ul. J.H. Dąbrowskiego 77a, Poznań, tel. 61 600 60 93,
3. Program for the prevention and early detection of head and neck cancers for residents of the Wielkopolska Region
   • 3. Target group: individuals aged 40–65 at high risk, meaning they present with at least one of the following risk factors: long-term smokers, alcohol abusers, individuals at an elevated risk of HPV infection, or those experiencing at least one symptom unrelated to an upper respiratory tract infection for more than 3 weeks, such as: burning tongue, non-healing ulceration and/or red or white patches in the oral cavity, sore throat, chronic hoarseness, neck lump, nasal obstruction or bloody nasal discharge, pain or difficulty during swallowing;
   • Implementing body: Wielkopolskie Centrum Onkologii (Greater Poland Cancer Centre), ul. Garbary 15, Poznań, tel. 61 885 07 29,
4. Support program for individuals over 65 years of age in reducing the occurrence of cognitive decline leading to neurodegenerative diseases
   Target group: individuals over 65 years of age with diagnosed cognitive impairment,
   Implementing body: Poznański Ośrodek Zdrowia Psychicznego (Poznań Mental Health Center) in Poznań, os. Kosmonautów 110, Poznań, tel. 61 820 33 23, 61 828 96 54, 61 827 73 70, 61 827 73 76

Preventive healthcare programmes
Caring for the health of its inhabitants, the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region finances the implementation of preventive healthcare programmes. Actions to prevent the diseases that are most common among the inhabitants of Wielkopolska (malignant tumors, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases) occupy an important place in the regional health policy. The objective of most of the preventive programmes financed from the Region's budget is to examine patients in their homes, allowing equal access to specialised diagnostic tests, mainly for the inhabitants of rural areas and small towns of the Wielkopolska region. The health education programme – an integral part of successful disease prevention – is particularly important. Its objective is to promote healthy lifestyle and health-conscious attitudes among the inhabitants of Wielkopolska, which will result in increasing awereness and responsibility for one's own health. The cooperation with NGOs is also an important component of these actions. In order to evaluate the efficiency of actions related to prevention and health promotion, it is necessary to implement them over a period of several years. For this reason, they are implemented based on the Regional Programme for Prevention and Health Promotion in the Wielkopolska Region 2014-2020.

The Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region, in cooperation with local self-governments, encourages all the inhabitants to participate in the ongoing programmes.

Partnership for Transplantation
On 8th September 2010, Mr Marek Woźniak, Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, together with the representatives of national and local administration, as well as the medical community, signed a letter of intent, initiating the "Partnership for Transplantation" programme in the Wielkopolska Region, thus responding to the call of the Minister of Health to implement the project, the aim of which is to raise social awareness of the meaning and the role of transplantology. The objectives of the Partnership, especially regarding the promotion of transplantation and organ donation, were prioritised and translated into practical actions of the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region, including training programmes for physicians, cooperation with NGOs and participation in the social campaign "Second life", under the honorary patronage of Mr Marek Woźniak, Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region.

Preventing and combating HIV/AIDS
The Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region was among the first regional actors in Poland to undertake actions aimed at a more systematic approach to preventing HIV/AIDS. As a result, since 2007, it plans and implements actions related to combating AIDS and preventing HIV infection according to detailed annual schedules, constituting the basis of compulsory annual reports on the implementation of the National Programme for Preventing HIV Infection and Combating AIDS to the National AIDS Centre.
The main activities in this field focus on areas I and II of the National Programme, i.e. prevention, including:

1. Transferring grants to NGOs for executing tasks related to combating AIDS and preventing HIV, including the organisation of the World AIDS Day, specialised training programmes, developing websites and operating the Consultation and Diagnostics Centre
2. Public education – education and training activities related to raising public awareness of HIV prevention and combating AIDS, including participation in national social campaigns, printing and disseminating educational and promotional materials, organising a contest of knowledge on AIDS in lower secondary schools, financing information centres: a call centre for the general public and a stationary centre dedicated to students.
3. Educating professionals in HIV/AIDS prevention in the region, including training programmes for healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, paramedics), employees of mental health clinics (psychologists, pedagogues, therapists, etc.), peer educators, delegates on addiction.

Preventing Addiction
Actions for preventing addiction are based on:

• the Wielkopolska Regional Programme for Preventing and Solving Alcohol-Related Problems
• the Wielkopolska Regional Programme for Preventing Drug Abuse, including tasks imposed, according to the Drug Abuse Prevention Act, by the Wielkopolska Regional Expert on Information on Drugs and Drug Abuse.

Both programmes are financed from the funds obtained by the Marshal of the Region from fees for issuing licences for the wholesale of alcoholic beverages of up to 18% alcohol content.
The Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region eagerly participates in national social campaigns, carried out with the participation of the State Agency for Solving Alcohol-Related Problems and the National Office for Preventing Drug Abuse, and, at the same time, undertakes actions at regional level. It should be pointed out that the Regional Self-Government closely cooperates with local self-government units in implementing municipal programmes related to preventing and solving alcohol-related problems and preventing drug abuse. Supporting supralocal and regional programmes for preventing and solving alcohol-related problems, including domestic violence, and preventing drug abuse, is among the priority actions of both Regional Programmes. It is equally important to cooperate with NGOs that perform a range of public tasks related to solving addiction problems, providing support to children and youth who are at the beginning of their "adventure" with drugs, and to adults who are already dealing with the problem of addiction or abuse of psychoactive substances. In accordance with the Act on Social Employment, targeted grants are available for the initial equipment of new Social Integration Centres in the region. Moreover, the Self-Government cooperates with its Independent Public Healthcare Centres that carry out addiction-related tasks, with the Regional Centre for Alcohol Dependance and Co-Dependance Therapy in Poznań in the domain of healthcare facilities' treatment of patients addicted to alcohol, and with the Regional Centre for Preventing Addiction for Children and Youth in Rogoźno, a budget entity of the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region.

Healthcare entities subordinate to the Wielkopolska Regional Parliament
Wielkopolska Regional Parliament is an entity creating 20 independent public healthcare facilities. Moreover, 3 commercial law companies have been created as a result of the transformation of SP ZOZs:

• Alina Pieńkowska Cancer Prevention and Epidemiology Centre
• Regional Psychiatric Care Centre in Sokółka
• Wielkopolska Emergency Service Station in Konin

Multi-profile regional hospitals hold a strategic position in the healthcare system. The Regional Hospital in Poznań has 658 beds and performs activities such as, among other, surgery, heart transplantation, obstetrics, gynaecology and orthopaedics. The Regional Polyclinical Hospital in Konin, with 930 beds, operates in the fields of medical emergency service, cardiology, nephrology, neurology, surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology and more. The Ludwik Perzyna Regional Polyclinical Hospital in Kalisz is the largest facility of its kind in southern Wielkopolska. It has 837 beds and provides medical care in many areas, including: surgery, internal medicine, neurosurgery, cardiology, nephrology, rheumatology, urology, obstetrics and gynaecology. The Regional Polyclinical Hospital in Leszno, with 528 beds, operates in the areas of internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, surgery, nephrology, urology, and more.
In the field of psychiatric care and addiction treatment, the largest facility is the Regional Hospital for the Mentally Ill "Dziekanka" in Gniezno, with 855 beds, which, apart from psychiatric care, provides addictions treatment, neurological and geriatric treatment, as well as rehabilitation. Furthermore, there are the Regional Neuropsychiatry Hospital in Kościan and the Regional Psychiatric Care Centre in Sokołówka. The Addiction Treatment Centre in Charcice plays an important part in providing services of addiction treatment (including alcohol and drug abuse) and withdrawal syndrome treatment.

Long-term healthcare in the region is provided by the Care and Treatment Centre in Poznań and the Nursing Care Centre in Śrem. As for maternal and child healthcare, it is provided by the Specialist Mother and Child Healthcare Centre in Poznań, the largest facility of its kind in the region and the only one in Poznań with an emergency room for children. Moreover, paediatric rehabilitation is provided by the Professor Mieczysław Walczak Rehabilitation Centre in Osieczna and the Children's Rehabilitation Hospital in Poznań – Kiekrz. The treatment of pulmonary diseases is provided by the Eugenia and Janusz Zeyland Wielkopolska Centre of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery in Poznań which plays a strategic role in the field of pulmonology. In addition, there is the Regional Specialist Healthcare Centre of Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis in Wolica. The Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region also guarantees healthcare services in two important fields of medicine – oncology and cardiology, provided, in the case of oncology, by the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Wielkopolska Oncology Centre in Poznań, and for cardiology – by the Rehabilitation and Cardiology Hospital in Kowanówko. The Self-Government is also the creating entity for the Poznań Rheumatology Centre in Śrem.
In the domain of emergency services, the following entities are subordinate to the Self-Government of the Wielkopolska Region:

• Wielkopolska Emergency Service Station in Konin
• Regional Emergency Service Station in Poznań