The increase in the number of applications typically reflects the development of healthcare, and the number of applications has generally been on the rise in the long term. However, this trend was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of applications decreased. The number of applications submitted in 2022 approached the record set in 2019, when 7,225 people applied for 9,241 separate medical procedures or events between different healthcare providers.
The Patient Insurance Center issued a decision on approximately 8,400 compensation applications, of which 24% were deemed to meet the compensation requirements. Of those who applied for compensation, almost 27% received a positive decision regarding at least one healthcare provider.
The costs of these compensations exceeded 40 million euros, of which 27.5 million euros were paid as compensations for injuries that occurred before 2022. Almost half of the compensation paid was related to loss of earnings caused by injuries, and more than a third to temporary or permanent disability. The rest were related to medical expenses and other expenses incurred as a result of the injuries.
Although insurance only covers the costs incurred by claimants, the true costs of patient injuries to healthcare providers and society are much higher. In addition to the economic costs, these injuries can cause significant human suffering for individuals and their families.
Most of the injuries resulting in compensation (93%) were due to medical errors where the patient should have been treated differently to avoid the injury. Most of the compensated injuries were related to surgical and anesthetic procedures, almost half to orthopedic procedures. Dental procedures also resulted in a significant number of claims.
The Patient Insurance Center encourages patients and healthcare providers to report injuries resulting from medical treatment, allowing patients to self-report their injuries instead of relying on healthcare providers to report them. This allows individuals to have their claims assessed by an independent and impartial body, which can help ease the burden of the claims process.
HT
Source: The Nordic Page