COVID rights: what coronavirus patients can count on
The first confirmed case of coronavirus disease in Ukraine was on March 3, 2020. And this is the year the country has been battling the infection. As of the end of February, 1.32 million cases of infection had been recorded, and 1.16 million people had been cured. Despite so many patients, many still do not know what their rights are and how COVID -19 should be diagnosed and treated. We talk about the rights of patients with coronavirus, whether they can count on free diagnosis and treatment.
Where to go for help
Many people mistakenly believe that you can see a family doctor only if you have previously signed a declaration with him. But this is not the case. The fact is that in November 2020, the government amended the relevant decree, which states that patients with or without a declaration can apply to the nearest primary care center.
"Sampling and treatment of patients with acute or suspected acute respiratory disease during self-treatment of the patient is now carried out regardless of the declaration of choice of doctor," - said the National Health Service.
But these changes will apply only during the pandemic and quarantine, and they provide only the first appeal and a limited list of free services for the patient.
The National Health Service proposes to plan the route of patients without declarations to the hospital as follows:
- determine the entry point - the registry or the doctor on duty;
- reception of the patient;
- an offer to make a declaration with the doctor on duty at the first request, if the limit allows, or with any other doctor who has not yet recruited the required number of patients.
Is it possible to call an ambulance?
Moreover, you even need to call an ambulance. If you are very ill, the temperature is above 38 and does not get lost, and breathing is difficult, feel free to call 103.
In the event that the ambulance refuses to come, and such cases, unfortunately, have happened more than once, you need to contact the Emergency Medical Center of your city. In addition, the Ministry of Health advises to immediately contact the "hot line" 0800-60-20-19 - there will help to apply for emergency medical care as an emergency.
Can
an ambulance be refused or can your family doctor decide if you need to be hospitalized or if you can be treated at home? Because hospitals are overcrowded, doctors may refuse hospitalization. But you have to remember that it is illegal. Therefore, demand from the doctor an official refusal of hospitalization, which will provide an explanation of all the reasons. After that you can call everyone on the same hotline.
However, patients cannot choose which hospital they are hospitalized in, because patients with COVID-19 are hospitalized only in specially designated hospitals.
There is another nuance for those who have coronavirus. If you are hospitalized, your relatives will not be able to visit you, although all ordinary patients have such rights.
Can do the test for free
Yes, I can really do the test for free. The physician may refer a mobile PCR sampling team to a patient suspected of being infected with COVID-19.
In a private laboratory, the COVID-19 test can be done without a family doctor’s prescription.
What other services can be obtained for free
If the patient is hospitalized, the necessary laboratory and instrumental tests, such as ECG, blood tests, etc., can be performed free of charge. Also, if necessary, the patient should be connected to ventilators (artificial lung ventilation) and ECMO (system of artificial circulation and blood oxygen saturation).
The family doctor can also send the patient for a CT scan or X-ray. All these procedures are included in the so-called "code package". If the patient is required to pay for such services, despite having a referral from a doctor, you need to contact the contact center of the National Health Service by phone - 1677.
In general, according to the National Health Insurance Fund, the state allocates 45,000 hryvnias for the treatment of one "crippled" patient. And this amount is allocated regardless of whether the patient was in the hospital for two days or twenty.
"This money is absolutely enough. Hospitals in Ukraine spend an average of 35,000 hryvnias per patient, which means 10,000 hryvnias are still unused, ”said Andriy Vilensky, acting head of the National Health Insurance Fund.
Author Anastasia Ishchenko
Photo Unsplash
Read also - For people to live: profession - surgeon
Where to go for help
Many people mistakenly believe that you can see a family doctor only if you have previously signed a declaration with him. But this is not the case. The fact is that in November 2020, the government amended the relevant decree, which states that patients with or without a declaration can apply to the nearest primary care center.
"Sampling and treatment of patients with acute or suspected acute respiratory disease during self-treatment of the patient is now carried out regardless of the declaration of choice of doctor," - said the National Health Service.
But these changes will apply only during the pandemic and quarantine, and they provide only the first appeal and a limited list of free services for the patient.
The National Health Service proposes to plan the route of patients without declarations to the hospital as follows:
- determine the entry point - the registry or the doctor on duty;
- reception of the patient;
- an offer to make a declaration with the doctor on duty at the first request, if the limit allows, or with any other doctor who has not yet recruited the required number of patients.
Is it possible to call an ambulance?
Moreover, you even need to call an ambulance. If you are very ill, the temperature is above 38 and does not get lost, and breathing is difficult, feel free to call 103.
In the event that the ambulance refuses to come, and such cases, unfortunately, have happened more than once, you need to contact the Emergency Medical Center of your city. In addition, the Ministry of Health advises to immediately contact the "hot line" 0800-60-20-19 - there will help to apply for emergency medical care as an emergency.
Can
an ambulance be refused or can your family doctor decide if you need to be hospitalized or if you can be treated at home? Because hospitals are overcrowded, doctors may refuse hospitalization. But you have to remember that it is illegal. Therefore, demand from the doctor an official refusal of hospitalization, which will provide an explanation of all the reasons. After that you can call everyone on the same hotline.
However, patients cannot choose which hospital they are hospitalized in, because patients with COVID-19 are hospitalized only in specially designated hospitals.
There is another nuance for those who have coronavirus. If you are hospitalized, your relatives will not be able to visit you, although all ordinary patients have such rights.
Can do the test for free
Yes, I can really do the test for free. The physician may refer a mobile PCR sampling team to a patient suspected of being infected with COVID-19. In a private laboratory, the COVID-19 test can be done without a family doctor’s prescription.
What other services can be obtained for free
If the patient is hospitalized, the necessary laboratory and instrumental tests, such as ECG, blood tests, etc., can be performed free of charge. Also, if necessary, the patient should be connected to ventilators (artificial lung ventilation) and ECMO (system of artificial circulation and blood oxygen saturation).
The family doctor can also send the patient for a CT scan or X-ray. All these procedures are included in the so-called "code package". If the patient is required to pay for such services, despite having a referral from a doctor, you need to contact the contact center of the National Health Service by phone - 1677.
In general, according to the National Health Insurance Fund, the state allocates 45,000 hryvnias for the treatment of one "crippled" patient. And this amount is allocated regardless of whether the patient was in the hospital for two days or twenty.
"This money is absolutely enough. Hospitals in Ukraine spend an average of 35,000 hryvnias per patient, which means 10,000 hryvnias are still unused, ”said Andriy Vilensky, acting head of the National Health Insurance Fund.
Author Anastasia Ishchenko
Photo Unsplash
Read also - For people to live: profession - surgeon