Our university was represented, along with the Rector, by the Head of the Department of Medical Biology MUW - Gabriela Olędzka, MD, PhD, the Head of the University Laboratory for Research on Breast Milk and Lactation operating in the Department of Medical Biology - Aleksandra Wesołowska, MD, PhD, and the Acting Head of the International Relations Office - Lidia Przepióra-Dziewulska, MA.
The purpose of the visit was for the Czech side to become better acquainted with the way milk banks operate in Poland and to consult on the planned EU regulation to include breast milk in the category of substances of human origin of therapeutic importance (so-called SoHO - Substance of Human Origine). The meeting was an opportunity to share MUW's experience in implementing good practices to milk banks in Poland and strengthening Polish-Czech cooperation in health care.
Rector Zbigniew Gaciong stressed that both the Czech Republic and Poland still have a lot to do in their health care systems to ensure that all activities in this area are properly subsidized and produce further results.
The Polish NGO - the Bank of Breast Milk Foundation - is a member of a consortium chaired by the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA). During the meeting, Aleksandra Wesołowska, MD, PhD, on behalf of EMBA, informed that within the framework of a project subsidized by the European Commission, the association will work out a common position of all milk bank stakeholders on the new EU regulation. She also conveyed an invitation regarding the Czech Republic's accession to this project. Members of the project, in addition to Poland, already include Spain, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Marta Dziura, MSc, Eng., Director of the St. Family Specialized Hospital, where the Regional Breast Milk Bank functions just as excellently, and where a delegation of the Deputy Minister of Health of the Czech Republic was also hosted, was a guest of the meeting at our university.
