Poland strengthens its role as a European standard setter in cross-border healthcare! The Healthcare Poland Foundation is pleased to announce that the Polish Patient Ombudsman, Bartłomiej Chmielowiec, has officially granted Honorary Patronage to the Polish Presidency of the Global Healthcare Travel Council (GHTC). This recognition serves as a significant institutional endorsement of the Foundation’s activities at both the European and global levels. This is already the second high-ranking public authority in Poland that has expressed full confidence in the work carried out by Healthcare Poland as the organiser of the Presidency – confirming alignment with patient rights, ethical international collaboration, and EU healthcare governance principles.
Importance of the Patronage from the Polish Patient Ombudsman in the context of EU law and cross-border healthcare
The Patronage is of particular relevance in light of EU Directive 2011/24/EU on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, which establishes rules for access to medical services in another Member State, reimbursement procedures, and mechanisms protecting patient rights.
This collaboration strengthens Poland’s role as a country that:
- actively contributes to shaping European quality standards,
- advances transparent and safe models of medical travel,
- protects the rights of patients using cross-border healthcare services,
- supports the implementation of EU-aligned international regulatory frameworks.
Poland is now positioned to act as a standard setter, defining transparent and ethical norms for international healthcare provision.
Poland in EHDS and the Helix consortium – building the digital foundations of cross-border healthcare
The European Health Data Space (EHDS) marks a new era for interoperability and secure health data exchange. Through the Helix consortium, Healthcare Poland contributes to Poland’s preparation for EHDS implementation and the creation of European digital standards.
Our activities include:
- supporting hospitals in establishing interoperable digital infrastructures,
- integrating Polish institutions with European-quality digital security frameworks,
- developing tools for cross-border services aligned with EHDS,
- promoting the “patient in control” principle embedded in the EHDS regulation.
Combined with the Honorary Patronage, these initiatives position Poland as one of the key actors shaping the future of cross-border healthcare in Europe.
Relevance for the Global Healthcare Travel Council
The Patronage confirms that:
- GHTC’s credibility and visibility in Europe are growing,
- the Polish Presidency holds strategic importance and is institutionally supported,
- the development of international standards in patient safety and quality is a core GHTC priority,
- Europe is becoming a central region for the organisation’s long-term development.
It also demonstrates that GHTC has genuine value for national healthcare systems and can serve as a platform for intergovernmental and inter-institutional cooperation.
Acknowledgements
Healthcare Poland Foundation expresses its gratitude to:
- Prof. Jarosław J. Fedorowski, President of the Polish Hospital Federation,
- Ewelina Bogiel,
- Piotr Welenc,
whose expertise and commitment have made this institutional progress possible.
Conclusion
The Honorary Patronage is not only a distinction – it is a clear signal of trust in Poland’s ability to co-create global standards in medical travel, cross-border healthcare, and patient rights.
Healthcare Poland Foundation will continue to advance responsible, transparent, and EU-aligned development of the international healthcare sector.
