Legal aspects of teleservices in oncology

Abstract

The use of teleinformatic tools and other means of communication in specialist care, including oncological care, is completely admissible and in accordance with currently binding law. Key legal acts on principles of providing health services, including the Act on the Profession of Doctor and Dentist and the Act on Medical Activity, allow adjudicating on a patient’s health status and providing all activities of a health service nature with the use of teleinformatic means and other communication systems. No organizational standards on televisits in specialist care have been established to date, imposing per analogiam use of the regulations on organizational standards of teleservices in primary health care. However, such a solution should be considered temporary and imprecise, therefore the regulation dedicated to providing televisits within specialist care, including its specificity areas, is essential. Simultaneously, it is necessary to eliminate the use of announcements and guidelines of the National Health Fund which refer to the admissibility of televisits as a binding legal form. Announcements, guidelines, recommendations and positions may only serve as advice for proceeding with special care and this should be eventually reflected in the current law.