Roadmap for large-scale implementation of point-of-care testing in primary care in Central and Eastern European countries: the Hungarian experience

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to give a broad overview of the international best practices regarding the implementation of point-of-care testing (POCT) in primary care (PC) setting and to highlight the facilitators and barriers for widespread national uptake. The study focuses on the managerial and organizational side of POCT, offering a roadmap for implementation as well as highlighting the most important requirements needed to unlock the clinical and economical potential of POCT in the Hungarian healthcare system. METHODS: We conducted an English language scoping literature review between January 2012 and June 2021 to assess the recent trends of POCT implementation in developed countries. Our research focuses on the recent publications of several European and Anglo-Saxon countries where POCT utilization is common. In parallel, we reviewed the Hungarian regulatory framework, ongoing governmental legislation, and strategies influencing the POCT dissemination in the Hungarian PC sector. RESULTS: Among the possible POCT usage in PC, we identified several clinically relevant devices and tests (C-reactive protein, urine, blood glucose, D-dimer, prothrombin time) important in screening and early detection of morbidities representing high disease burden. Based on international literature, general practitioners (GPs) are interested in the shortened diagnostic times, portable devices, and better doctor–patient relations made possible by POCT. There are several concerns, however, regarding initial and operational costs and reimbursement, limited scientific evidence about quality and safety, unclear regulations on quality validation of tests, as well as managerial aspects like PC staff training and IT integration at the GP level. CONCLUSION: As our review highlights, there is considerable interest among GPs to implement POCT as it has the potential to improve quality of care; however, there are many obstacles to overcome before widespread uptake. Further investigation is recommended to elaborate management and quality insurance background and to develop appropriate regulatory framework and financial scheme for GP practices. Preferably this work should involve the local practicing GPs to better tailor the implementation roadmap to country-specific details

E-administration, cybersecurity and municipalities – the challenges of cybersecurity issues for the municipalities in Hungary

Today, the digital revolution has also caught up with the administration. The digitalisation of the (public) administration has strong links to the security issues. Digitalisation could be interpreted as one of the tools for the good governance and it has several challenges, as well. In this article the situation and the challenges on the cybersecurity issues of e-administration services and practice of Hungarian municipalities will be analysed. The challenges and risks are significant, because of the fragmented Hungarian municipal system by which the economic power of the Hungarian municipalities is relatively limited. If we look at the regulation it was focused on the development a horizontally integrated e-administration. Although the acts on this system have been passed in the last years, and the former restrictions of the electronic administration have been eliminated, but the practice of the Hungarian e-administration is partly different. The new, enhanced e-administration resulted new challenges, which was partly solved by the radical nationalisation and centralisation of the former municipally performed tasks. The municipal e-administration systems have been built mainly by the largest municipalities