What you can consult about
A teleconsultation works for problems that need no hands-on examination: upper respiratory infections, colds, sore throat, cough, a flare-up of a chronic condition, questions about medication and side effects.
It is also a good way to establish whether an in-person visit is needed at all, instead of guessing or postponing.
How the consultation works
After payment the doctor calls the number you provided. The conversation usually takes a few minutes: symptoms, how long they have lasted, chronic conditions and current medication.
Afterwards you receive recommendations and, where needed, an e-prescription, e-referral or sick note. The documents go into the e-zdrowie system and a notification reaches your email.
When a teleconsultation is not enough
It cannot replace an examination where the doctor needs to listen to your lungs, palpate your abdomen or look at skin changes. In those cases you will be referred to a surgery.
With signs of a life-threatening condition — chest pain, breathlessness, altered consciousness, heavy bleeding — do not order a consultation, call 112.
What documents you can receive
During the consultation the doctor can issue an e-prescription, a referral to a specialist or for tests, and a sick note if your condition justifies incapacity for work.
Is an online consultation legal
Yes. In Poland telemedicine is equivalent to an in-person visit, and documents issued this way carry the same legal weight.
How long you wait
The doctor usually calls within tens of minutes of payment. At night and on days off the wait may be longer.
How to prepare for the consultation
Have ready a list of symptoms with dates, the names and doses of medicines you take, and any recent test results. The more specific you are, the more accurate the advice.
Make sure you have signal and a quiet place — the doctor needs to hear you, and the conversation covers sensitive data.
Consultation versus seeing a specialist
The teleconsultation is with a general practitioner. If your case needs a specialist — dermatologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist — the doctor issues an e-skierowanie you can use to book a clinic appointment.
That is usually faster than searching for an appointment yourself, since you get the referral the same day.
Consultations in Russian and Ukrainian
The barrier at a Polish clinic is often not the waiting time but the language. In our consultation you speak your own language — no translating symptoms, no asking relatives for help.
Ukrainian citizens in Poland have access to care on terms close to insured patients. A PESEL number is needed to issue documents.
Consultations for children
A consultation for a child is ordered by a parent or legal guardian, who also speaks to the doctor. With symptoms in small children the doctor more often refers to an in-person visit — assessing a child by phone has its limits.
Very satisfied with the service! I obtained my e-sick leave online, everything was convenient and hassle-free. The documents were sent to the system on time.