There is no way back from the obligation to issue electronic medical certificates. There will be no further extension of the deadline for introducing this reform, says the Minister of Family, Labor and Social Policy, Elżbieta Rafalska. This means that from December 1 this year. in Poland, doctors will be able to issue exemptions only in electronic form (paper exemptions will be used only in exceptional situations, e.g. in the event of a system failure).
– The deadline that introduces mandatory electronic sick leave is inevitably approaching. And there is no turning back from this path. I say it clearly and clearly, because part of the medical community still has – perhaps smaller, but still illusions that maybe there will be another deadline extending the introduction of e-exemptions. There will be no – said Minister Rafalska. – We really want the next reform to be properly implemented. I think this is a great help for both doctors and patients, and the benefits are mutual. As we go through this difficult stage of this change, we will really feel what the qualitative change between paper and electronic exemptions is, saving time for both doctors and patients – she added.
Elżbieta Rafalska emphasized that the deadline for introducing the reform was extended twice, so there was a lot of time to prepare. Asked whether sanctions will be applied to doctors who will not issue e-sick leave from December 1, the minister said that “doctors are aware of their responsibility for the health of their patients” and that “she does not allow the idea that they will not issue sick leaves”. “I cannot imagine such a situation,” she said.
Doctors can issue e-exemptions from January 1, 2016. From that time until November 6 this year, they issued 7,5 million such certificates.
According to ZUS data, the largest number of e-exemptions in relation to traditional medical certificates were issued in October in the Zachodniopomorskie (59,4%), Mazowieckie (56,9%) and Podlaskie (55,7%) provinces. Least – in the province. Lubuskie (33%), Lublin (35,5%) and Greater Poland (35,9%).