Poland’s shortage of anesthesiologists and ICU beds delays surgeries, jeopardizing patient care and highlighting gaps in the healthcare system.
Poland is grappling with a severe shortage of anesthesiologists, causing delays in surgeries and highlighting the strain on the healthcare system. The situation is exacerbated by insufficient intensive care unit (ICU) beds, where anesthesiologists play a crucial role in patient care.
The Importance of Anesthesiology
Anesthesiologists are essential for surgeries and medical procedures, managing anesthesia and monitoring patients during and after operations. Dr. Tomasz Napiórkowski emphasizes that modern medical procedures, such as colonoscopies, would be unthinkable without anesthesiology.
Impact of the Shortage
The shortage of anesthesiologists is forcing hospitals to postpone operations, according to Dr. Konstanty Szułdrzyński. Additionally, Poland lacks sufficient ICU beds, with only 2% of hospital beds dedicated to intensive care—well below the 5% recommended by the EU.
Without an increase in medical personnel and resources, the healthcare system faces further strain, jeopardizing patient care and delaying critical surgeries.