Poland

Poland

Poland

Medical guidelines

In Poland ME/CFS is not officially recognized as a disease entity, therefore there are no general, medical guidelines.

Government health insurance

Doctors from the government medical system do not know of ME/CFS; therefore, most of these patients are diagnosed as having a psychiatric condition and are treated only with antidepressants.

Private health insurance

A very small group of doctors in private practice know of the existence of ME/CFS. In most cases an official diagnosis is made when the patient, after doing his/her own research, discovers information about ME/CFS, then finds a doctor who knows this disease. In Poland at this moment (2018) the diagnosis of ME/CFS can only be established in two places: the Praxis Clinics, which are located in the cities of Bydgoszcz and Poznań. At these clinics, testing for dysautonomia is also possible.  The treatment strategy in the Praxis clinics is based on the improvement of the functioning of the autonomous nervous system through movement, which is formally called GET, but is not identical to the original GET therapy.  This is the only available therapy.  

Access to care

Very few patients are correctly diagnosed. Other than antidepressants and movement therapy (which is only available privately), there are no existing treatment possibilities for ME/CFS in Poland. 

Social security and disability benefits

Social security and disability benefits    Since ME/CFS does not exist as a disease entity in Poland, it is not possible to arrange disability benefits, a certificate of disability or a certificate of inability to work. The situation of Polish ME/CFS patients is especially dire, taking into consideration the fact that the average Polish salary of one person is not adequate to cover the needs of two people. Therefore, even those patients who are unable to work, but have a partner who works, still face many major financial struggles.

Patient charities

Unfortunately, in Poland there are no charities devoted to ME/CFS. Patients who seek support find only a small and slowly developing support group on Facebook “"Grupa Wsparcia ME/CFS (błędnie znane jako 'zespół przewlekłego zmęczenia')”. Another source of support from an informational standpoint is the slowly developing webpage mecfs.pl by a Polish ME/CFS patient.

Researchers

• 2019, Prevalence and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in Poland: a cross-sectional study - (Full text)

Learn more

• 2016, ME in Poland - Help me raise awareness and funding across the EU
• https://mecfs.pl/
• https://poradniapraxis.pl/przewlekle-zmeczenie/zespol.html

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

dysautonomia disorders of the autonomic nervous system that cause disturbances in all or some autonomic functions, may cause problems regulating autonomic functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and digestion. Can cause symptoms including lightheadedness, fainting, unstable blood pressure, and orthostatic intolerance.

graded exercise therapy (GET) - A gradual increase in exercise or activity, according to a pre-defined plan. Focuses on overcoming the patient's alleged unhelpful illness beliefs that exertion can exacerbate symptoms, rather than on reversing physical deconditioning. Considered controversial, and possibly harmful, in the treatment or management of ME. One of the treatment arms of the controversial PACE trial.

See Graded exercise therapy.

See ME/CFS.

The BMJ (previously the British Medical Journal) is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal.

BMJ The BMJ (previously the British Medical Journal) is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal.