The position statement of the Polish Society for Rheumatology on medical assistance to citizens of Ukraine necessary due to the armed conflict

Data publikacji:
28 lutego 2022

The Polish Society for Rheumatology with sadness and dismay learned about the war on the Ukrainian soil. As physicians, we know well what suffering is and we strongly oppose all actions of aggression against the people of free Ukraine, which always cause death and suffering of many innocent individuals.

We would like to thank all Polish rheumatologists for their acts of supporting the people of Ukraine, especially the assistance provided to the citizens of this country who have taken refuge in our homeland. We encourage to provide further and wider assistance by all means, both institutionally organized and provided individually.

As rheumatologists, we express our support to our colleagues from Ukraine and we assure them that we are willing to help them.

We are aware that among the hundreds of thousands of citizens of Ukraine who are forced to flee due to an armed conflict, there will be also those requiring specialist rheumatological treatment, including the application of immunosuppressive drugs and biological therapies. These medication is available in Poland only as part of the drug programs. This applies to both adults and children with arthritis.

According to the announcement of the National Health Fund, "A citizen of Ukraine who came to Poland due to Russia's military aggression in Ukraine and who reports a health problem to a family doctor, specialist outpatient clinic or hospital should be provided with adequate medical assistance. Benefits provided to Ukrainian citizens will be paid by the National Health Fund."

The Polish Society for Rheumatology calls for that the regulations of the National Health Fund regarding an additional rights for Ukrainian citizens entitling them to health services in Poland include also the possibility of medical prescription in accordance with the Polish reimbursement regulations, including the possibility of administration of biological treatment as part of the drug programs. The Polish Society for Rheumatology declares all assistance in elaboration of such regulations that will facilitate effective treatment of Ukrainian citizens in Poland.

Executive Board of the Polish Society for Rheumatology
President of Polish Society of Rheumatology
prof. dr hab. n. med.
Włodzimierz Samborski
The board of Polish Society of Rheumatology
prof. dr hab. n. med.
Marek Brzosko
dr hab. n. med. Bogdan Batko prof. KA AFM
prof. dr hab. n. med. Sławomir Jeka
prof. dr hab. med. Przemysław Kotyla
dr hab. n. med. Hanna Przepiera-Będzak
dr n. med. Wojciech Romanowski
dr n. med. Marcin Stajszczyk
prof. dr hab. n. med. Elżbieta Smolewska
prof. dr hab. n. med. Piotr Wiland
dr hab. n. med. Zbigniew Żuber, prof. nadzw. KA AFM
Chairman of the Historical Committee of the Polish Society for Rheumatology
prof. dr hab. n. med. Eugeniusz J. Kucharz