The Accessibility Plus for Health Programme

Narrative

The Accessibility Plus for Health Programme implemented by the Ministry of Health is part of the government's Accessibility Plus Programme, which comprehensively covers the area of accessibility in Poland. The aim of the Accessibility Plus for Health project is to adapt hospitals and primary (health) care facilities to the requirements of people with special needs, m.in people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and even children. Participation in the project gives participating centers a chance to develop, modernize and create a friendly space for patients, especially those with special needs. By joining the "Accessibility Plus for Health" project, facilities can obtain financial resources (grants) for equipment facilitating communication (e.g. with a deaf person, with a person with speech disorders), staff training in communication with people with special needs, adaptation of websites or free movement (signs, ramps, lifts), appropriate marking and lighting of rooms, equipping registration points and doctors' offices with an additional equipment, etc. The support provided in the project can also be used to prepare parking spaces for people with special needs. Financial support is provided in the form of grants. 350 contracts are being implemented, including 78 with hospitals and 272 with primary care facilities. Thanks to 40 on-line trainings, 1167 employees of hospitals and facilities were trained in communication with people with special needs. Accessibility Standards for Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Facilities have been developed. They covered 3 areas: architectural, digital and information and communication.

Financial data

Total budget: PLN 353,885,142.00 (about EUR 79,598,088.58 ), EU funding (European Social Fund): PLN 298,254,397.67 (about EUR 67,085,269.05)

Recommendations

In the opinion of the beneficiaries of the programme, it was of great importance for patients, many of whom are people with disabilities. The implemented solutions have improved the accessibility of hospitals and first care facilities, but also the awareness of staff in terms of meeting the needs of the elderly and people with special needs. The availability of healthcare facilities for people with special needs has been neglected in Poland for decades. Thanks to EU funds for the years 2021-2027, a new Accessibility Plus programme for OSC (Outpatient Specialist Care) will be implemented. The aim of the project will be to improve the architectural, digital and ICT accessibility of facilities providing specialist outpatient care. Although EU Funds are not the main funds supporting health care facilities, they are an important part of them. The evaluation of the impact on the health of the society of activities undertaken under another programme - the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020, showed that without EU support, the vast majority of beneficiaries (94%) would not have implemented the project. It is likely that the assessment of the impact of the Accessibility Plus Programme on health would be similar.