Thousands of patients queue – some will wait until fall, others don’t know how long

We have to wait and fall

According to Š. Narbutas, some patients with cancer diseases will have to wait for the scheduled services even until the fall.

“We are already seeing queues, oncology patients are registering in the fall. And if the situation does not change, there will be no more patients seen, but only around 50%, which means that in the fall the queue will have to wait half a year or more, however this is not a problem in one area. As far as oncology is concerned, we were in a slightly better position because those services were described as urgent during quarantine and therefore continued to be provided. However, it is clear that some oncology patients have not received the necessary services, said the president of POLA.

– The biggest problem is that the service updates are not centralized. Just as the institution itself can handle it, it also does. The problem, I would say, is latent, because if the institution now only serves 50 percent. for patients treated before COVID-19, this is already a one-month queue. “

When will you get the procedures: I don’t know

According to the interlocutor, in some cases these services can be expected. Additionally, cancer patients are at increased risk for immunodeficiency in treatment facilities. However, this situation cannot continue any longer.

“It is possible to skip a consultation or treatment cycle, but when the procedure is delayed 4-5 times or patients don’t know at all when they will receive that service, it is difficult.” And that’s just an illustration, because other patients with heart disease, diabetes, etc. t. we face the same problems, ”Š said. Narbutas

As the president of POLA said, it is more difficult for patients not to know when the required procedure will be performed. In Lithuania, chemotherapy or radiotherapy are performed only in 6 medical institutions.

“These are the National Cancer Institute, the Kaunas Clinics, the Santara Clinic, the Klaipėda University Hospital, the Panevėžys and Šiauliai Republican Hospitals. And there are no private institutions that provide such services, so oncology patients cannot go anywhere, “said the interlocutor.

In addition, in most cases, the patient will need to undergo blood or radiological tests during treatment. However, according to Š. The lines for the radiological exams waiting for Narbut are even longer than before.

“If the test is not performed, chemotherapy or radiation therapy or other treatment should not be given because the doctor does not know what the patient’s condition is. The doctor could accept, but without the results of the examination, it cannot be done, – said Š. Narbutas

– Queues are the biggest challenge. Even after the services have been updated, they are not provided as much as before, which still does not guarantee accessibility. “

Therefore, according to the interlocutor, the solutions to this problem should be found as soon as possible.

“There was a kind of commotion in March, when everything had to shut down and wait. We were still waiting in April, and in May it was announced that treatment services could be resumed. I think solutions must be found in June to see how institutions achieve the level they were before quarantine. If not, the queues will be much higher and it will be impossible for patients to receive services. Stopping the health system is very fast, but restoring it is a real challenge. Such a system, where institutions can choosing for themselves how much and when to upgrade their services is not good. Patients pay taxes, but they cannot receive the availability of the service, nor can they go to the private sector with that money, “says Š. Narbutas

In the outpatient clinic for quarantine services – Half at most

In its response, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) wrote that it served patients with cancer diseases throughout the quarantine period. Cancer, surgical, chemotherapeutic, or radiological treatment continued throughout the quarantine period. The examination and treatment of new patients with suspected oncological disease was also guaranteed. As indicated in the response, patients were consulted remotely whenever possible, such as through scheduled prescription, long-term follow-up of patients with low risk of disease progression and no further complaints.

As noted by the head of the polyclinic department IMI Consulting dr. After suspending the provision of primary and secondary care services in other medical institutions, Rasa Vansevičiūtė-Petkevičienė was unable to undergo many examinations and consultations, some patients were unable to see a GP or specialist and receive a referral to IMI due to your complaints.

“Understandably, like all institutions, most of which were almost 100 percent. By suspending direct (on arrival) counseling, IMI was forced and still adheres to strict quarantine rules to protect IMI patients who are particularly susceptible to infection. Due to this procedure, of course, the consulting polyclinic provides half of the services that we could before, “said the doctor.

We are constantly asking for understanding and patience: for patients who do not urgently need a consultation with an oncologist, some exams can be performed according to the place of residence, IMI can only be contacted in case of new changes. Furthermore, due to strict quarantine restrictions, IMI has temporarily suspended patient consultations on non-oncological diseases, prevention programs: IMI’s priority is to provide services to patients with oncological diseases, and at this critical moment we give priority to this group of patients.

Some patients don’t come anyway

Since March 16. part of the consultations had to be postponed at the Consulting Polyclinic and, according to IMI, efforts are currently being made to call patients with oncological diseases for whom consultations have been postponed.

“Obviously, we can’t re-register patients as much as, for example, we registered a year ago, and we also need to be prepared for the second wave of COVID-19 in the fall, so patients register with longer breaks. between visits in the fall. “

It is important to mention that some patients who have been called or registered again do not arrive on time, as a result part of the consultation time is lost. This can happen for a variety of reasons, most often at this time due to fear of visiting a hospital, the risk of COVID-19 infection, and other reasons, so patients are strongly encouraged to inform their treating physician. if they plan to miss an appointment or undergo tests. in advance, then you can invite another patient: there really are many waiting, “summarized the head of the department.

In other departments, quarantine did not adjust the workflow as strongly. As reported by the head of the IMI chemotherapy department with the day hospital doctor. chemotherapy oncologist dr. Birutė Brasiūnienė, after the multidisciplinary commission, primary patients can see an oncologist-chemotherapist even in the same week or the same day, for those who continue treatment, within 1-2 weeks.

Head of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Dr. radiologist dr. Jurgita Ušinskienė reported that there are currently no IMI queues for mammograms and X-ray exams – they can be done the same day. If other tests are needed, the lack of equipment, as before, will lead to queues: the CT scan will have to wait 21 calendar days, MRI – 14 days, ultrasound examination of the breasts – 5 days.

During the two months of quarantine, 500 oncological pathology operations were performed at the National Cancer Institute, and almost 6,000 people visited the polyclinic office. patients, many consultations were by phone. More than 3 thousand. outpatient chemotherapy procedures and more than 4 thousand. outpatient radiotherapy procedures. The volume of services in some departments corresponded to the period prior to quarantine, while in others, such as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, it stopped completely. However, the total volume of services remained around 60-70%. from the previous service level.

Santara Clinics reported that scheduled services were provided at all times, but only to those patients who would have been at risk of significant deterioration in health without such services. For other patients, they were delayed until the end of quarantine.

According to Gitana Letukienė, spokesperson for the Santarai Clinics, this hospital now gives priority to those patients whose scheduled services were canceled during quarantine, so others have to wait to receive other treatments.

The Ministry is aware of the situation.

When asked by Health Minister Aurelius Veryga at a press conference on Monday if the ministry is aware of the situation regarding oncology patients who are currently unable to receive the necessary services, A. Veryga replied that the situation is really known.

“It just came to our attention then. Some of the hard-to-reach services relate to the spread or management of infection, quarantine conditions, the requirement that hospitals implement additional infection control measures, manage the flows of take breaks between patient visits and the like. We need to understand that some circumstances are really objective, which can lead to a slight increase in that waiting period for those who need scheduled services, especially when it comes to preventive services. ” , said the head of the Ministry of Health (SAM).

– For those in need of treatment, these services were not interrupted during quarantine. Anyway, as I said before, I can repeat once again that we are now monitoring the establishments very closely and how they are updating the scheduled services that were suspended during the quarantine. For those institutions that do not renew their services by the specified deadline, which is probably June 8, the payment of 1/12 will be reviewed. In that case, payment is likely to be made because the services have been provided. “

If there are long lines at a medical institution, you can try applying to another that has a contract with the State Health Insurance Funds, in which case the services will be paid from the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (PSDF).

You can check the patient line at the treatment center here.