Prague hospitals are gradually opening UA points, independent and in clinics
Today, the UA point also started operating at the Motol University Hospital, in the place where the covid-19 vaccination center used to be. They have to set up teaching hospitals for contact with Ukrainians, and the Ministry of Health wants to negotiate with the region.
“We are heading here primarily for those who have not yet processed all the documents. Those who are already Czech insured can come to any department, “Miloslav Ludvík, director of the Motol Hospital, told ČTK and Seznam Reports today. Refugees who obtain a toleration visa are entitled to Czech insurance. There have been over 200,000 of them in the Czech Republic since the beginning of the war.
In Motol, the UA point is at the level of the exit from the metro towards the children’s polyclinic. In the area, which has a separate entrance outside the adult and children’s part of the hospital, there is one pediatrician’s office and one adult general practitioner. At two tables, the patient first fills in a questionnaire with a medical history, which is in Czech and landscape. “We ask for a complete family history, just like when you go to your practitioner for the first time,” he added. According to him, common problems associated with the trip, such as colds or vaccinations in children, are most often resolved on the spot.
“So far we are dealing with it mostly in the form of a solemn declaration,” he said. According to Ludvík, unvaccinated children under one year of age should be revaccinated against TB, but there will be problems with vaccines. “There is no registered in the Czech Republic, but it is nowhere in Europe,” he added. Pulmonary doctors have warned that he should have a supply of vaccine as well as drugs and tests for tuberculosis. According to him, measles, which is highly contagious, could also be a problem. In Ukraine, according to them recommendations of the vaccine society in the years 2017 to 2019 a great epidemic. According to Ludvík, the reproductive number of measles is 16, so one patient can attack up to 16 others.
According to the director, the creation of a reserved place for refugees, for which staff, including someone who knows Ukrainian, must be reserved, is also a problem for the largest Czech hospital. “We have the exact number of doctors and nurses we need for the hospital. We have anything extra right away, so it means that I have to release staff and someone has to do their normal work for it, “he explained.
According to Eva Libigerová, a spokeswoman for the Bulovka University Hospital, there are two UA points, one for children and one for adults. “Persons from Ukraine who pass the registration process have a guaranteed participation in the public health insurance system as state insured persons and are fully entitled to the provision of paid health services as other insured persons of health insurance companies in the Czech Republic,” she said. The hospital has treated over 300 of them since the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Since Thursday, UA at four clinics has points for Ukrainian refugees, the General University Hospital, which is located in a large area with many pavilions at Charles Square. According to spokeswoman Marie Heřmánková, they are located at the joint intake of internally ill patients (SPIN), the surgical clinic, the gynecological and obstetric clinic and the pediatric and adolescent medicine clinic.
“Previously, we treated UA citizens in regular outpatient clinics. They were not set aside for them as they are now, “the spokeswoman added. After noon today, she stated that the hospital will soon have information in the region and on the website.
There are dedicated surgeries in Bulovka and Motol until 15:00, patients must be admitted for urgent use. According to Ludvík, the current situation will exacerbate long-term problems, with patients going to the hospital in the afternoon and evening. “After 3:00 p.m., there are a maximum of 120 health care facilities in the state,” the former health minister said, referring to the short opening hours of GPs for children and adults who are not on emergency services.
He reminded that in Bavaria, for example, GPs in each district share days of the month and one of them serves evening and night every day. Other colleagues will help him the next day. “It must arise in our country as well,” he added.
In addition, the treatment of Ukrainian patients complicates the language barrier, which provides prolonged care. Ludvík described that over the weekend, 400 children came to the urgent reception of the Motol hospital, 90 of whom were from Ukraine. “Two to three doctors serve there. It costs ten children an hour, you have about five minutes for one, “he added.