Nearly 800 thousand uncancelled medical appointments. Will central e-registration help?

By mid-2025, patients had not canceled 773,000 treatments. planned medical visits – said the president of the National Health Fund, Filip Nowak, during the inauguration of the 4th edition of the “I cancel, I do not block” campaign.

On Wednesday, the 4th edition of the “I cancel, I don't block” social campaign took place at the Office of the Patient Ombudsman. The aim of the campaign initiated in 2022 by the CMP Medical Center is to draw attention to the growing problem of uncancelled medical visits – both in primary health care, specialist care and planned procedures.

Data on the scale of the problem in the public health care sector, in approximately 40 specializations, was presented by the president of the National Health Fund, Filip Nowak.

– By mid-2025, patients had not canceled 773,000 treatments. – he said. – This means 773,000 people who could have benefited from specialist advice, but unfortunately they did not succeed. An uncancelled visit is a lost opportunity to help another patient. On the other hand, it is a huge responsibility on the part of medical facilities, which should provide an effective communication channel with the patient and enable the cancellation of the visit – emphasized Filip Nowak. In 2024, 1.36 million visits were not canceled.

Patient Rights Ombudsman Bartłomiej Chmielowiec emphasized support for facilities in implementing the system of arranging and canceling visits.

– But it is up to the facilities to diagnose the situation in this area and implement adequate tools and multi-channel facilities for making appointments. Of course, patients also need to remember this and show solidarity with other people waiting for an appointment. Therefore, the key is, on the one hand, the responsibility of people managing the facilities, and on the other hand, education and solidarity among patients – said the spokesman.

The problem of unused reserved appointments with doctors is to be solved by central e-registration. From January 2026, it will concern cardiology, breast cancer prevention and cervical cancer prevention. From July 1, 2026, the system will cover vascular diseases, infectious diseases, endocrinology, hepatology, immunology, cystic fibrosis, nephrology, neonatology, tuberculosis and lung diseases. The Ministry of Health wants all outpatient specialist care services to be included in the central e-registration by December 31, 2029 at the latest.

According to the act on registration, which is awaiting the president's signature, it will be possible to register for a visit via the Online Patient Account or directly with the service provider – in person, by phone or e-mail. The system will remind you about appointments and allow you to cancel them, which will reduce the number of unused appointments.

The Act does not provide for penalties for the patient for failing to cancel an appointment. But in such a case, the patient misses the deadline and goes to the end of the queue. If he cancels his visit, he will go to the front of the queue because his waiting time will be taken into account. (PAP)

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