Health standards in Poland
Health care in Poland is based on the obligatory health insurance system entered into force in 1999. The private system does not work through insurance schemes but on a treat – pay scheme. All clinics and hospitals have to be approved and registered with the Ministry of Health Department. The private clinics and dental surgeries are equipped with state of the art modern technology and facilities (ISO 9001 certificated), largely due to high competition among dentists in Poland as well as strict EU health regulation (PCPD, 2007).
Over the years the European Union has established EU laws and regulations that demand high standards of the health systems of its member states. The Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General checks regularly that rules are being applied properly in all EU countries and high standards of service met. Poland as a member has to comply with those regulations that also regard the qualifications needed to become a dentist. In Poland, it is a long process that involves intense studying. The first step is to accomplish five years of study in medical school. In the last two years in medical school students become apprentices, where they get first-hand experience by working with real patients. Additionally, in order to be able to practice in Poland, a candidate dentist must obtain a permit, which will allow him to practice the profession for the period of 5 years. Another requirement is to register with The Polish Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, which is a self-governing organisation whose aim is to enhance the prestige of Polish physicians and dental practitioners in society (PCPD, 2007). After graduation, dentists can go on to study to become specialists in particular areas of dentistry, such as prosthodontics, orthodontics or oral surgery, so they can perform dental work abroad. All dental qualifications obtained in Poland rank very highly among European qualifications. In order to continue to practice, dentists in Poland need to acquire a certain number of points every year, which can be gained by attending accredited courses. This system of compulsory post-grad education in Poland is similar to the Continuous Professional Development programme which applies to dentists in the UK.
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