RESEARCH ARTICLE
Reflections on the Patient’s Right to Healthcare Services: The Case of Individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
1
Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu
Publication date: 2025-12-31
PPM 2025;7(4):65-90
KEYWORDS
healthcare servicepatientpatients’ rightsmyalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The article examines the situation of patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in the context of the right to healthcare services within the Polish healthcare system. Despite its severe course and significant impact on quality of life, the condition remains insufficiently recognized in both legal and organizational frameworks, partly due to the absence of a clear ICD-10 coding practice. The lack of appropriate regulations and dedicated procedures restricts patients’ access to diagnostics, treatment, and rehabilitation, thereby undermining the constitutional principle of equal access to healthcare. The article also highlights potential violations of patients’ rights as well as the invisibility of the issue in the National Health Fund’s reporting system.
REFERENCES (21)
1.
Brenna E., Araja D., Pheby D.F.H., Comparative Survey of People with ME/CFS in Italy, Latvia, and the UK: A Report on Behalf of the Socioeconomics Working Group of the European ME/CFS Research Network (EUROMENE), Medicina, 2021 r., Nr 57(3):300, s.8, doi: 10.3390/medicina57030300.
2.
Broż O., Podolak A., Wybrane elementy prawne wpływające na system ochrony zdrowia, Ius et Administratio, 2023 r., Nr 4 (53), doi: 10.15584/iuseta.2023.4.2.
4.
Frischhut M. , Levaggi R. , Patient mobility in the context of austerity and an enlarged EU: The European Court of Justice's ruling in the Petru Case, Health Policy, 2015 r., Nr 119 (10), doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.07.002.
5.
Garlicki L., Zubik M. (red.), Konstytucja Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej. Komentarz, Warszawa 2016 r.
6.
Guy M., Towards a European Health Union: What Role for Member States?, European Journal of Risk Regulation, 2020 r., Nr 11(4), doi: 10.1017/err.2020.77.
7.
Hvidberg M.F., Schouborg Brinth L., Olesen A. V, Petersen K. D, Ehlers L., The Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), PLOS One, 2015 r., Nr 10 (7), e0132421, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132421.
8.
Kujawski S., Słomko J., Godlewska B. R., Cudnoch‑Jędrzejewska A., Murovska M., Newton J. L., Sokołowski Ł., Zalewski P., Combination of whole body cryotherapy with static stretching exercises reduces fatigue and improves functioning of the autonomic nervous system in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Journal of Translational Medicine, 2022 r., 20(1): 273., doi: 10.1186/s12967-022-03460-1.
9.
Melby L., Nair R. Das., We have no services for you… so you have to make the best out of it’: A qualitative study of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients’ dissatisfaction with healthcare services, Health Expectations, 2023 r., Nr 27, doi: 10.1111/hex.13900.
10.
Missailidis D., Annesley S.J., Fisher P.R., Pathological Mechanisms Underlying Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diagnostics (Basel), 2019 r., 9(3):80, doi: 10.3390/diagnostics9030080.
11.
Mroczek M., Dlaczego wprowadzanie ICD-11 tyle trwa?, Remedium, https://remedium.md/publikacje...? (dostęp 10.07.2025).
12.
Nacul L., Authier F.J., Scheibenbogen C., Lorusso L., Helland I.B., Martin J.A., Sirbu C.A., Mengshoel A.M., Polo O., Behrends U., Nielsen H., Grabowski P., Sekulic S., Sepulveda N., Estévez-López F., Zalewski P., Pheby D.F.H., Castro-Marrero J., Sakkas G.K., Capelli E., Brundsdlund I., Cullinan J., Krumina A., Bergquist J., Murovska M., Vermuelen R.C.W., Lacerda E.M, European Network on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (EUROMENE): Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis, Service Provision, and Care of People with ME/CFS in Europe, Medicina, 2021 r.; 57(5):510, s. 2. doi: 10.3390/medicina57050510.
13.
Nowicki M. A., Panaitescu przeciwko Rumunii - wyrok ETPC z dnia 10 kwietnia 2012 r., skarga nr 30909/06, [w:] M.A. Nowicki, Europejski Trybunał Praw Człowieka. Wybór orzeczeń 2012r., LEX, 2013 r.
14.
Sakowicz M., Jagielska B., Bodnar L., Jaroszyński J., Krzakowski M., Implementation of the Polish version of the 11th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11): importance for oncology, Oncol Clin Pract 2023 r.; Nr 19(5), doi: 10.5603/OCP.2023.0032.
15.
Seitz C., The European Health Union and the protection of public health in the European Union: Is the European Union prepared for future cross-border health threats? ERA Forum. 2023 r.; Nr 23(4), doi: 10.1007/s12027-023-00732-1.
16.
Słomko J., Newton J.L., Kujawski S., Tafil-Klawe M., Klawe J., Staines D., Marshall- Gradisnik S., Zalewski P., Prevalence and characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in Poland: a cross-sectional study, BMJ Open, 2019 r., Nr 9(3), doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023955.
17.
Smyth N.J., Blitshteyn S., Language Matters: What Not to Say to Patients with Long COVID, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Other Complex Chronic Disorders, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2025 r., Nr 22(2): 275, doi: 10.3390/ijerph22020275.
18.
Stelmach M., W strategii na najbliższe lata RPP zapowiada walkę z medycznymi „szarlatanami”; 26.10.2024 r. https://www.prawo.pl/zdrowie/s... (dostęp: 10.07.2025 r.).
19.
Strand E. B., Nacul L., Mengshoel A. M., Helland I. B., Grabowski P., Krumina A., Alegre-Martin J., Efrim-Budisteanu M., Sekulic S., Pheby D., Sakkas G. K., Sirbu C. A., Authier F. J., Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Investigating care practices pointed out to disparities in diagnosis and treatment across European Union, PLoS ONE, 2019 r., Nr 14 (12), doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225995.
20.
Wyrok Sądu Rejonowego w Szczecinie, IX Wydział Pracy i Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, z dnia 26.06.2019 r., sygn. IX U 275/18 niepubl.
21.
Zdyb M., Istota prawa do ochrony zdrowia w świetle art. 68 Konstytucji RP ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem art. 68 ust. 1. Dylematy i kontrowersje, Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska Lublin – Polonia, 2024 r., vol. LXXI, 1, doi:10.17951/g.2024.71.1.173-192.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2719-3748 |
| ISSN: | 2657-8573 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
