Implementation of Patients’ Rights

The institution of the Ombudsman appeared in Poland as late as in 2008 as a result of the enactment of the Act of 6 November 2008 on Patients’ Rights and Patients’ Ombudsman. This was the result of conducting many studies and recommendations, which recognised the need to institutionalize patients’ rights and thus appoint a patients’ representative that will uphold their rights. It should be noted that the Act on Patients’ Rights and Patients’ Ombudsman was part of the so-called health bill package, aimed at reforming the health care system and supporting patients in enforcing their rights. The Patients’ Ombudsman was established to effectively protect the rights of patients in the health care system. This follows directly from the basic duties of public authorities to protect the health of citizens. In general, the duties of public authorities to protect health and act in the health care system derive from Article 68 of the Polish Constitution. This provision is fundamental to determining the scope of the obligations of public authorities, but also of those required to interpret and apply the provisions of patients’ rights. On this basis, the Ombudsman for Patients’ Rights, as the central body of government administration in Poland, is competent for the protection of patients’ rights (Act of 6 November 2008 on Patients’ Rights and Patients’ Ombudsman). His activities are focused on respecting patients’ rights concerning the individual patient, as well as the collective rights of patients.