Norwegian Polenprosjektet initiative to tackle health inequalities in Poland
Photo by Jay Davison/ Getty Images
Polish and Norwegian scientists and health personnel will collaborate on the Polenprosjektet project, an initiative launched to equalise access to health services for impoverished groups in remote areas in Poland.
Between 2020-2024, the initiative will develop seven models and procedures for eHealth and digitalisation within the areas of cardiology, geriatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics, palliative care, and chronic diseases.
The project is financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanisms, EEA Grants (Norway Grants). The Ministry of Health – Department of Innovation in Poland is the programme operator, and responsible for the project.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Centre for eHealth research will serve as a project partner, contributing to the project by sharing competence and research.
WHY IT MATTERS
The goal of the project is to reduce social inequalities through equal access to health services regardless of social background.
The method of the project is divided into three activities:
- Development of models for eHealth within seven fields of medicine
- Competence building of residents and health personnel
- Information campaigns and promotion of the project
THE LARGER CONTEXT
Reducing inequalities in health access has been an area of focus in Europe recently. Earlier this month, The African Union (AU) criticised the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) for creating “inequalities in access” by not recognising the Covishield vaccine.
In March, the European Commission proposed EU4Health programme in response to COVID-19, investing €5.1bn in EU countries, health organisations and NGOs to boost innovation and build resilience of health systems.
ON THE RECORD
The announcement said: "After being publicly announced in Poland, and going through a selection process, the chosen models will be financed and tested as pilot projects in regional hospitals and institutes. The pilots will then be evaluated by an independent unit, and the most successful pilots will then be implemented and financed by public funding.
"The Norwegian Centre for eHealth Research will contribute to this project by sharing competence and research. Furthermore, The Norwegian Centre for eHealth research will contribute with resources in working groups within the chosen fields and facilitate for cooperation between scientists and health personnel in Norway and Poland."
