NEWS

17/03/2020

17:26

Kidawa-Błońska Questions PM Morawiecki on Financial Support for Hospitals, Relief Package, and Testing Capacity

Michał Olech

Europe has currently become the epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic. The increase in the number of infected individuals, those under quarantine, and epidemiological surveillance carries serious consequences. Numerous signals from various parts of Poland regarding the inadequate preparedness of hospitals and other services to combat the coronavirus are the reason why I am holding discussions with local government officials, experts, and hospital directors. Despite government assurances, entrepreneurs, employees, and local governments remain without support. Hospitals report a lack of sufficient financial resources, and consequently, equipment. During a conversation with local government officials from the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, a number of problems requiring urgent solutions were highlighted. In light of this, I am requesting answers to the following questions - wrote Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in an interpellation to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. 1. Financial support for hospitals is insufficient. As a result, they are using their own funds to purchase necessary equipment. Will these expenditures be reimbursed? 2. The West Pomeranian Voivode recommends that social welfare employees be available to individuals in quarantine. In this regard, are they provided with personal protective equipment? 3. Up to what level, in the event of a significant increase in the number of cases, can the daily testing capacity be increased? Today in Szczecin, this number is only 50. 4. Will representatives of the Marshal's Offices, under whose supervision healthcare units operate, be included in the Voivodeship crisis management teams? 5. In the event of a need to close offices and reorganize their work, is the government considering introducing regulations concerning the inability to meet administrative deadlines? 6. The hotel industry, due to the government's lack of action, is already submitting requests to local governments for exemption from property tax. It is already known that revenues from environmental fees will significantly decrease. Consequently, local governments are making difficult decisions to limit investment spending. At what stage are the works on the relief package for entrepreneurs? 7. Health resorts have suspended the acceptance of new patients. The facilities will soon be empty. Will health resorts, facing the threat of bankruptcy due to the inability to provide services, receive government support?

Michał Olech