– I am extremely pleased that Lower Silesia is joining initiatives aimed at improving health policy programs and, consequently, improving the health of the residents of our region. The Self-Government of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship is the first regional authority in Poland to join the project, while also serving as an inspiration for others. It is good that such important pilot activities are being undertaken precisely in our region – says Marshal Cezary Przybylski.
The aim of the project “Local Government Centre for Improving Competences in Health Policy Programs,” known as the “Health Policy Incubator,” will be to plan, create, implement, coordinate and monitor activities and efforts concerning Health Policy Programs at the local-government level. The activities will be carried out by the regional self-government in cooperation with the ministry institution that is the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System, as well as with other entities, such as hospitals and universities. Advisory and consultative functions will be performed by a specially appointed council made up of healthcare experts.
– The Agency assesses draft health policy programs prepared by local governments and actively conducts training for local governments on developing and evaluating draft health policy programs. The Health Policy Program Incubator makes it possible to conduct pilot health policy programs. This initiative complements the Agency’s activities in supporting local governments in preparing and implementing health policy programs, because the Health Policy Program Incubator creates an opportunity to examine medical technologies used in disease prevention and health promotion, develop gold standards for prevention and health promotion in selected health areas under Polish conditions, and prepare, on this basis, recommendations of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System – says Dr. Roman Topór-Mądry, President of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System.
The expected results of the Incubator will primarily include:
- increased detection of diseases,
- a decrease in the incidence of lifestyle diseases,
- increased public awareness of health,
- building partnerships for prevention, health promotion and health education activities.
Based on analyses of health needs, potential areas to be covered by the planned activities have been identified. They include:
- prevention and early detection of cardiovascular diseases,
- cancer prevention,
- overweight and obesity prevention,
- a tobacco-use reduction program,
- early detection of cervical, breast and colorectal cancer, among others.
– Our intention is for the Health Policy Program Incubator to bring together experts, young researchers and doctors specializing in preventive healthcare. We want to establish close cooperation that will result in many preventive ideas and projects, contributing above all to improving the health of Lower Silesia residents – says Marcin Krzyżanowski, Deputy Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
The Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Centre in Wrocław will play an important role in the pilot phase of the Health Policy Program Incubator. It is a key provider of many preventive programs in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, including:
- an early colorectal cancer detection program,
- an early breast cancer detection program,
- a cervical cancer prevention and early detection program.
The Centre also conducts research and development activities. The facility can also boast the European iPAAC certificate (Innovative Partnership for Action Against Cancer), which it obtained as the first oncology hospital in Poland.
– The possibility of using the expanded scope of comprehensive activities carried out as part of DCOPiH in the Health Policy Program Incubator deserves emphasis, both in broadly understood prevention and in the development of coordinated comprehensive medical care – says Dr. habil. Adam Maciejczyk, Director of the Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Centre.
Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship:
The results of activities carried out through the Health Policy Program Incubator will be published in the form of recommendations by the President of the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System. In the future, this will allow other local governments to apply similar solutions and help improve health policy programs in Poland.