The Ministries of Health, Justice and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration will work together against violence against medical staff
At the initiative of the Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna, a meeting of representatives of the ministries of health, justice, internal affairs and police was held. The main topic was to tighten penalties for violence against healthcare workers and improve safety in medical facilities.
A meeting was held in the building of the Ministry of Health with the participation of Minister Izabela Leszczyna, Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar, Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak and Chief Commander of Police Marek Boroń. The meeting was devoted to the growing problem of aggression against medical personnel and the need for urgent legislative and organizational actions.
Minister Leszczyna emphasized that the goal is to make the penalties for violence against medics as realistic as possible and to increase their inevitability and ruthlessness . The draft amendment to the Penal Code, which contains proposals to tighten the regulations, has already been submitted to public consultations.
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The debate has intensified following the January murder of a paramedic in Siedlce and the recent murder of an orthopedist in Krakow. In response to these events, a special working group on medic safety was established, which includes representatives of the National Chamber of Paramedics (KIRM), OZZRM, the Polish Society of Paramedics and other industry organizations.
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The Ministry of Health announced advanced work on a number of specific solutions:
- Three-person emergency medical teams – as provided for in the amendment to the act, awaiting the president's signature,
- Training in coping with aggression – conducted by the police, is to cover 10,000 rescuers by the end of 2024,
- Psychological support – mandatory for all EMS dispatchers from 2025,
- The procedure for using the "help" button - implemented in the SWD system, with appropriate guidelines for services,
- Knife-proof vests – planned as part of ambulance equipment, are to meet international quality standards,
- Monitoring cases of aggression – periodic reporting of incidents is planned, although the Ministry of Health admits that it does not have the resources for their in-depth analysis.
KIRM drew attention to the need to establish an independent team to analyze cases of aggression against medics - based on solutions functioning in other countries. Without risk analysis and case studies, it is impossible to implement effective preventive measures - indicate representatives of the community.
Deputy Minister of Health Wojciech Kos admitted that it is currently not possible to create such a team within the ministry, which, according to KIRM, only confirms the need for independent entities to operate.
The next meeting of the security team is planned for 3-4 weeks. By then, participants are to receive materials for analysis. The results of the findings will be presented to Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
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