On 26^th of February 2020, Minister Bartłomiej Chmielowiec appointed members of the Council of Experts at the Patient Ombudsman for the three-year term of office. Prof. Henryk Skarżyński is among over 20 experts from various fields of medicine who will support, identify challenges and solve them on an ongoing basis, advise and provide useful recommendations. The Council is a consultative and advisory body and will support the Ombudsman in carrying out its statutory tasks.

– I am delighted that you will support the Patient Ombudsman. You are excellent experts in your respective fields – it is a great honor for me that you want to support the office that protects patient rights – said Bartłomiej Chmielowiec – I would like to formulate proposals of changes that will be most beneficial for the health care system but above all for the patients. Without substantive and expert background, it is difficult to create solutions that would effectively change the reality of the Polish healthcare system. Therefore, thank you very much for accepting the invitation to work in the Council of Experts.

Prof. Bolesław Samoliński was appointed as the Chairman of the Council: – Establishment of the Council of Experts is an important event. We have selected professionals who want to actively participate in the works in the areas of patients’ safety, their rights, quality of care and many others – pointed out Prof. Samoliński – Patient Ombudsman is a unique institution in the health care system. One of the tasks of Minister Bartłomiej Chmielowiec is to express opinions and take positions on the most important challenges in the health care system from the patient’s perspective. As the Council of Experts, we will support the Minister in these areas with our capabilities, competences and knowledge.

This year, the activity of the Patient Ombudsman will focus mainly on the problems of seniors. Therefore, in 2020, the Council of Experts first intends to focus on tasks entailed by the senior policy in the context of an aging society.

The aging of the human body is an inevitable, irreversible and constantly progressing process. It affects the entire body, without exception, the hearing organ as well. The proper functioning of the hearing organ is a condition for efficient communication and development of the modern information society.

At the beginning of the 20^th century, more than 90% of the functioning of people and their position in the society were determined by manual skills. Today the communication ability is of the primary importance. – said Prof. Skarżyński – Good hearing is essential to it. Aging societies, especially western ones, have growing problems with various partial hearing losses. Meanwhile, one of the foundations for the development of modern society is progress in interpersonal contacts, access to information and its exchange. These are just a few reasons why I intend to participate actively in the works of the Council.  – adds Prof. Skarżyński.

The following persons were appointed to the Council:

1. Prof. Bolesław Samoliński, M.D., Ph.D. – Chairman of the Council.
2. Prof. Maciej Banach, M.D., Ph.D.
3. Prof. Maria Barcikowska-Kotowicz, M.D., Ph.D.
4. Prof. Mariusz Frączek, M.D., Ph.D.
5. Jakub Gierczyński; M.D., Ph.D., MBA
6. Prof. Wiesław Jędrzejczak, M.D., Ph.D.
7. Prof. Dorota Karkowska, Ph.D.
8. Błażej Kmieciak; Ph.D., DSc
9. Ms. Maria Libura;
10. Prof. Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas, M.D., Ph.D.
11. Janusz Meder, M.D., Ph.D.
12. Robert Mołdach, BEng., Ph.D.
13. Prof. Marcin Moniuszko; M.D., Ph.D.
14. Rev. Arkadiusz Nowak, Ph.D.
15. Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, M.D., Ph.D., dr h.c. multi
16. Piotr Warczyński; M.D.
17. Prof. Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis, M.D., Ph.D.
18. Prof. Jacek Wysocki, M.D., Ph.D.
19. Prof. Maria Załuska, M.D., Ph.D.
20. Anna Gręziak, M.D.
21. Prof. Anna Wilmowska – Pietruszyńska, M.D., Ph.D.