This paper addresses the lack of interoperability within the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in Poland’s healthcare sector. Despite a high level of digitalization for certain services—such as e-prescriptions and e-referrals—the Hospital Information Systems (HIS) and EHR platforms provided by various vendors remain largely incompatible. This limits the capacity for the secure, automated exchange of comprehensive clinical data between healthcare facilities, shifting the burden of managing medical documentation onto patients themselves and increasing the risks of redundant diagnostic testing, treatment errors, and additional administrative costs.
The primary recommendation presented in this policy brief is the implementation of a "Polish Open Interoperability Model" (PMOI). The author proposes mandatory certification for HIS/EHR systems based on the HL7 FHIR R4 standard, coupled with a system of sanctions for vendors who fail to meet these requirements. A second component of the proposed reform involves scaling the e-Health Centre’s (Centrum e-Zdrowia) Integration Hub to a nationwide level, encompassing all public healthcare providers. A third recommendation is the establishment of a "Polish Health Data Access Centre" (PCDDZ)—modeled after Finland’s "Findata"—which would serve as the national health data access authority required under the European Health Data Space (EHDS) framework.
Julia Miller is a student of Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science at the University of Warsaw. She is interested in the application of AI within the medical sector, as well as the mechanisms of the human mind. Lesław Skibiński is a manager, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor specializing in digital transformation and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. He/she has many years of experience in the insurance and medical services sectors, where he/she has been responsible for the development and scaling of technology-based products.
The article is available on PolitykaZdrowotna.com. A full report, featuring a detailed analysis of the proposal presented, will be published on our website soon.
This work was produced as part of the "Young Think Policy Briefs – Health" program.