A/HRC/41/33/Add.433/Add.4 be pointed out that according to Article 9(1) of the GTCA, the provider provides services throughout the duration of the agreement, in accordance with the work schedule specified in the agreement and the material and financial schedule. When signing an agreement for the provision of health care services, the provider undertakes to provide all the services defined as guaranteed in the relevant executive decrees to the Act, within the given scope and type of services for which the agreement has been concluded. It should also be pointed out It is to be underline that in the case of impossibility of providing services, which could not have been predicted earlier, the provider is required to immediately take steps to maintain continuity of services (transferring the patient to another provider which can ensure the indicated service), at the same time notifying the Voivodeship Branch of the Fund on this event and the actions taken. Moreover, it should be emphasised that according to Article 8 of the GTCA, the provider ensures services in a comprehensive manner, including the performance of the necessary tests, including laboratory tests and imaging diagnostics, as well as medical procedures related to the provision of these services. Therefore, if a doctor practising their profession on the basis of an employment relationship or in the service informs the provider on the refusal to provide the service in the situation specified in Article 39 of the Act of 5 December 1996 on the professions of doctor and dental practitioner, i.e. due to the “contentious objection”, the provider is required to ensure the performance of this service in a different way. The manner of providing health care services in a given medical entity should be organised in such a way as to ensure, on the one hand, that doctors are able to exercise their profession in accordance with their conscience and, on the other hand, that patients have undisturbed access to the health services to which they are entitled. Lack of possibility to provide services constitutes improper performance of the agreement, for which a contractual penalty may be imposed on the provider in accordance with the provisions of Article 29 et seq. of the GTCA, or even termination of the agreement in accordance with the provisions of Article 36 of the GTCA. As a rule, therefore, all medical entities (hospitals) that have concluded agreements with the National Health Fund are required to provide the services provided for therein — to the full extent and in accordance with the applicable law. The application of the “contentious objection” should not affect this obligation. In addition, it is also important that conscience is an individual category, so only particular individuals can invoke the contentious objection. It is a right to free (i.e. free from any pressure) self-determination in matters of world view, which is not fulfilled by a collective refusal. To sum up, if a doctor refrains from performing health care services inconsistent with their conscience, the information obligation regarding the manner of performance of the agreement with the National Health Fund in this respect lies with the provider, i.e. the medical entity, in which the doctor refrained from performing this service. Ad Part VII “Family and culture”, paragraph 60 It should be noted that a change will be introduced in the Programme “Family 500 plus” in 2019. The Programme will be amended by including also the first or only child being raised until turning 18, regardless of the income. At present, the right to a 500+ child-support benefit for the first child (the only or eldest child in the family up to 18 years of age), is conditioned on the criterion of income. The income needs to be no more than PLN 800 net per month per person in the family, or PLN 1,200 net per person in the family if a disabled child is a member of the family. The scope of the 500+ child-support benefit will be broadened to include more support for families raising children, by enabling them to partially cover the expenses associated with the satisfaction of life needs and upbringing of their children. The solution will enter into force in July 2019. 11

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