Health Systems in Transition - Hungary - World Health Organization ...

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Health systems in transition Hungary
programme has been much lower, with only 5% of eligible women having taken
part (Ministry of Health, 2008). In 2006, two further screening programmes
– for occult gastrointestinal bleeding and prostate cancer – were introduced on
a pilot basis for people aged 50 to 70 years, but these were terminated in 2009
(2005/11, 2009/3).
At present, the only compulsory screening programmes in Hungary are
those for infants and children, including screening for congenital disorders
and examinations of the sensory organs and blood pressure on an annual basis
(1997/17). Compulsory screening for adults can be ordered only in special cases
(1998/6).
In addition to these regular screenings, there are also on-off or short-term
initiatives, such as the “Screening for Life Programme” conducted by the
Ministry of Health in 2007. 2 As part of an all-day health fair, screening teams
measured and recorded participants’ blood pressure, blood glucose and BMI,
as well as any dental, ophthalmological, paediatric or orthopaedic conditions.
They also screened for COPD and melanoma, and provided self-examination
training. A variety of pilot programmes have also been implemented, including
screening for colorectal cancer among people aged 50 to 70 years and for labial
and oral cancer, and for increasing the effectiveness of cervical screening with
the involvement of MCH nurses (Ministry of Health, 2009b).
5.2 Patient pathways
To demonstrate how the Hungarian health system operates from the point of
view of the patient, this section describes in detail the pathway taken by a
patient with a typical case of chronic heart failure, including the first point
of contact, the diagnostic processes and, ultimately, the treatment and care
received. It is important to note that there may be significant deviations from
this example due to professional and regional disparities.
• A 50-year-old male patient consults his family doctor, with whom he is
registered, and complains of fatigue, difficulty breathing, swelling around
the ankles and waking up during the night and needing to urinate. The
progression of symptoms has been continuous, and it is the patient’s first
visit with these complaints. The visit is free of charge.
2 As of 2010 called the State Secretariat for Healthcare within the Ministry of National Resources.