The conference lasted two days. The first - expert - was filled with scientific panels, and the second - with sessions prepared by students.
Public health crisis
The meeting was opened by Professor Bolesław Samoliński, head of the Department of Prevention of Environmental Hazard, Allergology and Immunology UCC MUW:
– We have a public health crisis. The pandemic has made us realize that the health care system needs a national view. Health problems can be the basis of great economic, social, psychological, educational problems. Therefore, what is written in the Public Health Law must be improved.
Professor Samoliński noted that a lot is happening in medicine these days. However, this applies to restorative medicine. However, when it comes to public health, prevention and health promotion, we have an increase in alcohol consumption, a rapid increase in the percentage of overweight and obese people. The pandemic has taken its toll. That's as many as 200,000 additional deaths.
The untapped potential of experts
Professor Mariusz Gujski, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, also spoke about contemporary challenges for public health in his speech. He stressed that in Poland, public health has not yet found proper for this discipline place. – The victims of the fact that today we are not able to use the potential of public health specialists are we, the Polish society – the dean said.
Applications vs. hypertension and more
The inaugural lecture was given by Dr. Aleksandra Michałek. She spoke about the role of mobile apps in changing health behavior.
– 10 million - that's my number for you today – began Dr. Michałek. That's 36 thousand dreamliners filled to the last seat, 180 national stadiums full of fans, 5 cities like Warsaw. That's how many people suffer from hypertension, which is one of the main risk factors for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure. And it takes so little to prevent the disease or at least mitigate its course. And apps can help with that.
– I am convinced that support with apps, can significantly reduce the cost of medical care – said Dr. Aleksandra Michałek. Today's digital tools educate, monitor behavior, and suggest health paths based on the data.
The inaugural lecture also talked about the patient of the future, or phigital patient. Such a patient is willing to take active care of his or her health when encouraged by digital devices.
Education and the role of pharmacists
During the first panel, "Can we afford to (not to) pay off the health debt today?" experts recalled in which areas we have incurred the greatest debt and considered what is the key to paying it off. The discussion was moderated by Dominik Olejniczak, MD, PhD, from the Department of Public Health MUW, a member of the board of directors of the Citizens Healthily Engaged Foundation. And it was attended by Barbara Dziuk, MP; Anna Staniszewska, MD, PhD, from the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology MUW; Anna Sarbak from the Coalition To Help the Dependent, Dr. Klaudiusz Komor vice president of the Supreme Medical Council, and Dr. Piotr Merks chairman of the Trade Union of Pharmaceutical Employees.
Dr. Klaudiusz Komor: – Due to the pandemic, some diseases were not recognized in time. The effects of therapy in chronic diseases have also worsened. That's why we now diagnose more diseases, mainly cancer, and they are more advanced. Cardiac patients are also coming to us in worse condition. We need to make up for these two years and educate patients.
Education should address both prevention and adherence to therapy. Pharmacists can help with this. Dr. Piotr Merks argued that it is worthwhile to strengthen cooperation between doctors and pharmacists. He also spoke about an interesting solution used, for example, in England, which is a continuing prescription. It can be issued by a pharmacist in the case of a chronic disease and after making sure that previously prescribed drugs have been used by the patient.
Digital solutions
The second panel, "A concerted effort to rebuild the health debt," was moderated by Anna Staniszewska, MD, PhD. This discussion included Dominik Olejniczak, MD, PhD; Hubert Życiński Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation at the Ministry of Health, Jakub Gołąb, Director of the Department of Social Dialogue and Communication, Office of the Patient Ombudsman; Paweł Kikosicki Director of the Center for E-Health. The theme of digitization returned. The invited guests argued that digital solutions will help remove health debt.
Hubert Życiński: – We have remote visits, e-prescription, and we will expand the services available through the Internet Patient Account. Also in the area of prevention. We want the patient to be active and aware. This is what we are working towards. We are looking for more new channels of communication, we intend to use the m-health channel, i.e. mobile health by introducing, for example, a catalog of certified applications.
The experts also said that new digital solutions should be consulted with patient organizations, so that they truly respond to patients' needs. Above all, however, patients need to know what options they have and how to navigate the healthcare system.
Jakub Gołąb: – We have developed a navigator in the Ombudsman's Office that will show patients which services and programs they can use and how. This navigator will soon be available on our websites and in paper form.
Cardiac patients after pandemic
The last panel, "Following the voice of the heart: are we listening to our body?" was moderated by Anna Staniszewska, MD, PhD, and was devoted to heart failure. It was a really heated discussion. It was attended by Prof. Marek Kuch, cardiologist and Vice Rector for Student Affairs MUW, Agnieszka Wołczenko from the National Association of Patients "EcoHeart," Dr. Aleksandra Tomaszek, psychologist, psychotraumatologist representing MUW and the National Institute of Cardiology; Dr. Agnieszka Gorgoń-Komor, senator; Dr. Paweł Kazimierczak, medical director, board member of American Heart of Poland, Aleksandra Kurowska, “Co w zdrowiu” portal, Dominik Olejniczak, MD, PhD.
Prof. Kuch explained what heart failure is and how many Poles suffer from it. He stressed that it is a set of symptoms. Many diseases, not only cardiac diseases, if they last for a long time, after a certain period of time lead to heart exhaustion, which we call failure. It is estimated that between 800,000 and one million people suffer from it in Poland. – However, it is important to remember that heart failure is at the end – the professor pointed out – prevention should start many years earlier with the prevention of hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Heart failure from the patient's perspective
Agnieszka Wołczenko spoke about the problems of patients with heart failure and the need for access to reliable information about the disease.
Dr. Aleksandra Tomaszek also focused on patients and their situation: – A patient diagnosed with heart failure is confronted with change. This causes anger, frustration, uncertainty, and lowered mood. In such a situation, it is important to accept the disease and focus on the goal of therapy. The effectiveness of treatment can also be improved by involving the family.
The discussion also included threads about physician-patient communication.
Dr. Agnieszka Gorgoń-Komor spoke about the need to create education aimed at specific target groups (with a focus on age). As a senator, she also stressed that "insufficiency is recognized within the National Cardiac Network, as well as in social, pharmacotherapy and reimbursement aspects."
The VIII Warsaw Days of Health Promotion were organized by the Student Scientific Circle of Public Health MUW - Health Promotion Section. Patronage of HM Prof. Zbigniew Gaciong, Rector of MUW.
