The Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic reflect on the requirements of practice and try to relieve pediatricians from administrative burdens. At present, sometimes up to a third of their working time is involved in issuing medical certificates. After the new one, parents will no longer have to go to the doctor's. According to the upcoming decree, a parent's declaration of honor will suffice for schools.
Nowadays, if a parent wants his child to go to school in nature, camp, or swimming or skiing, he must bring a medical certificate to school. This means visiting a pediatrician in his working time and paying for his certificate. Thus, the equipment of the official document with a stamp places a burden not only on the parent but also on the doctor, who could devote time to treating the sick patient.
New
According to the current decree of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, it is obligatory for general doctors for children and adolescents to issue certificates of medical fitness to undergo sports training. Thanks to the change proposed by health and education departments, the child's health will be re-assessed by the parent and the school will present a solemn statement. Both ministries are thus trying to ease red tape in the case of medical certificates and are looking for solutions suitable for paediatrics, schools, pupils themselves and parents.
The driver will write down what medications his child regularly takes and what illnesses he has, as it is important for a health care professional in the camp or for training. She has to know that the child has, for example, asthma and regularly takes inhalation sprays, and the head specialist of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic for primary paediatrics Elena Prokopová said. The person who provides health care during the sports training carried out in the form of a stay is the person who fulfils the conditions for the exercise of the health profession and who needs to know the health of the child. If a parent is unable to assess the health of a child, he shall consult his pediatrician.
The Health Department is communicating with the National Health Information Centre and is looking for ways to link the system of the Ministry of Education to remove the administrative burden on issuing these certificates, said State Secretary MZ SR Michal Palkovič.
The proposed amendments could enter into force from July 2023.