Change in patients is professionally grounded
A new treatment regime at the Institute of Oncology came into force in early March. Now some patients of the treatment application no longer receive an outpatient examination, but a day or two later. Patient organizations pointed out that many patients reported the inconvenience and problems of the new change.
Such a regime shortens the waiting time for patients, according to the Institute of Oncology. Changes, in their view, are necessary, since « only safe treatment is one that prevents damage to the patient, as well as reliable and double -controlled preparation of anti -directional treatment prevents harmful events due to possible errors. »
Their response was directed in the letter they were addressed to the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Institute from patient organizations. Yesterday they met with representatives of oncology societies who, through understanding, accepted explanations regarding the necessity of introducing changes, they said today from the Institute of Oncology.
A week ago they are in organizations Patients with cancer The Ljubljana Oncology Institute, the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, called on to find a solution that will reduce patients’ burden.
Among other things, they expressed concerns and disagreement with regard to the introduction of a change in the organization of work in a daily hospital for systemic treatment at the Institute of Oncology; They stated that representatives of societies elected to the patient’s council were not informed of the planned introduction of the change; They wrote about the problems that patients face after the introduction, and suggested that the new method of treatment corresponds to the oncology institute and a particular part of patients; They emphasized the complaints received by the societies from patients and their relatives, and called for the Institute of Oncology, the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance Institute to listen to the voice of patients and find a more appropriate solution.
What is the new regime?
Now some patients of the treatment application no longer receive an outpatient examination, but a day or two later. The institute believes that such a regime that came into force on 3 March. It shortens the waiting time for patients. On the contrary, the letter last week was considered in organizations of oncology patients, where they are otherwise aware that the new treatment is appropriate for the institute and « perhaps a particular part of patients ». Many patients, however, report the inconvenience and problems of new change, warned. As they wrote, a new way of treatment is not only an additional physical effort, but also an additional financial and logistical burden. Relatives who accompany patients now need two instead of one day of leave, and the cost of transportation and parking have doubled. Those who use non -urgent rescue transport are now on a full day of travel. Both transports must be ordered at least two days in advance, although they do not yet have a certain date and hours for the next arrival for therapy.
The associations have received many complaints and confessions of patients who have been in severe distress by the new treatment system. Patients also report that they are waiting for the drug application despite their order order on another day. « This clearly shows that the organizational measure or change does not solve the problem, but to many oncology patients markedly complicates treatment and exacerbates the quality of life, » they stated in the letter.
The Institute of Oncology reiterated the changes in the desire that the public and all important stakeholders understand the necessity and professional justification on the one hand and the careful planning of the introduction of changes on the other. Among other things, the justifications were presented in seven points.
They wrote that the centralization of the preparation of medicines provides double professional control, providing additional improved safety and reducing the possibility of defects in therapy. According to them, double controls are also required by the standards of the quality of the European Organization of Oncology Institutes (OECI).
More and more hearings
The Institute of Oncology deals with about 70 percent of all patients with cancer in the country. “The number of daily hearings has increased significantly in recent years; In the last three years, it has been recorded by a duplicate number of such hearings, which confirms the need for more efficient organization of work. Data show that in 2023 we dealt with more than 29,000 patients, and a year later more than 36,000. The system, which was underway, caused a long wait for the treatment and therapy in the waiting rooms and hallways, which, unfortunately, often exceeded reasonable boundaries, and the system did not provide optimal patient experience, « they wrote.
Therefore, even before the introduction of changes, they were forced to order some patients for therapy the next day, and could not perform all therapies on the same day. According to them, patients were therefore not dissatisfied.
Photo: Blaž Samec/Work
At the same time, they wrote that despite the lack of staff and the spatial distress of patients, they did not reject, but try to treat everyone as soon as possible. « In accordance with the provisions of the Patients’ Rights Act, we provide patients with appropriate, quality and safe health care and respect the right to organize work that reduces unnecessary waiting. »
The review of the introduction of the new system and the planning has been held for the last three years. For many years, oncology societies have warned us about the unsustainable waiting patients in inadequate spatial conditions, so we have been intensively looking for a suitable way of solving a problem that will be for the benefit of patients, but taking into account all the restrictions of the Institute of Oncology.
“Unfortunately, no solution is neither good nor bad for everyone. But the adopted solution is professionally grounded. When it comes to patient safety and their treatment we are and we will always be inexorable and unwavering, « they wrote. They also stated that ordering for therapies is a established practice in most Slovenian hospitals, as it enables better organization of work and a shorter waiting time for patients. This approach follows examples from abroad, where such treatment models are already established.
The change was informed of the change
They denied the allegations of patient organizations that the society had not been informed of the change, as the Council of Patients of the Institute of Oncology was aware of the change in detail before its launch; The meeting was held on 13 February this year. Due to controversy in the public, all societies were re -explained and argued by the decision, in writing, on March 14, 2025.
“We also want to emphasize that we have published the notice of gradually introducing a changed manner in the day care hospital on the Institute 11. February this year, and one month before the introduction of the change, we informed the patients during their hearings, and we also prepared a dedicated leaflet informing them of the new ordering procedure and benefits for patients. We also informed the remaining stakeholders of the change, « they wrote at the Institute of Oncology.
Under the open letter of 20, March 2025, the Europa Donna Slovenia Association, the Slovenian Oncology Association of Slovenia, the Slovenian Association of Patients with Lymphoma and Leukemia, L&L and the Slovenian Oncology Society for Men’s Oncoman, who are members of the Council of Patients of the Ljubljana Institute of Oncology and other related societies: National Society of Patients with Melanoma, were signed. Slovenia, Mali Knight Foundation – Foundation for Assistance Healed from Childhood Cancer, Association of Urological Patients of Slovenia, Slovenian Society of Hospic and Association of Patient Organizations of Slovenia.
