Missing Treatments in EESZT: When Healthcare Providers Fail Their Data Reporting Obligations

Understanding EESZT: Fundamentals and Legal Obligations

The Electronic Health Service Space (EESZT) is a mandatory, central healthcare IT system operating in Hungary since November 1, 2017. The system's purpose is to make patients' health data, treatments, prescriptions, referrals, findings, and other health documents available in a central, secure electronic system for both doctors and patients.

Mandatory Data Reporting for All Providers

Data provision to the EESZT system is mandatory for all publicly financed and private healthcare providers, including:

• General practitioners and family pediatricians
• Specialists and specialist clinics
• Hospitals and health centers
• Outpatient clinics and ambulatory care providers
• Private clinics and practices
• Dental and other specialized care providers

Scope of Mandatory Data Recording

The system must comprehensively document all healthcare activities:

• Medical examinations and consultations: With diagnoses and treatment plans
• Diagnostic tests: Laboratory results, imaging study findings
• Interventions and surgeries: Detailed procedural documentation
• Applied therapies: Including conscious sedation and anesthesia
• Medications: Prescribed and dispensed prescription documentation
• Implants: Implanted devices with identifiers and specifications
• Health documents: Discharge summaries, reports, consultations
• All relevant treatments: That may have future medical significance

System Benefits in Modern Healthcare

One of EESZT's greatest advantages is making patients' medical history nationally available to treating physicians:

• Emergency care: Immediate access to complete patient health history
• Specialist examinations: Review of previous diseases, allergies, medications
• Patient safety: Drug interaction and contraindication checking
• Care continuity: Seamless transitions between providers

Personal Experience: Missing Conscious Sedation Documentation

Discovery of the Problem

In my personal case, an intervention performed at a healthcare provider and the applied conscious sedation were not recorded in the EESZT system, despite this being a legal obligation. The problem was discovered when I wanted to check the history of received care in EESZT, and was surprised to find that the treatment in question simply does not appear in the system.

Multi-layered Problems of Documentation Failure

This documentation deficiency creates problems across several critical areas:

Legal and Financial Implications

• Documentation deficiency: May be source of legal problems in the future
• Financing issues: No reimbursement for unrecorded interventions
• Regulatory compliance: Violation of statutory obligations
• Quality assurance problems: Care processes become unverifiable

Immediate Actions and Legal Steps

After noticing the problem, I immediately contacted the healthcare provider in question. The case is still ongoing, and I have initiated comprehensive legal steps to resolve the situation. Based on my experiences, I have compiled this guide that may help others in similar situations.

Medical Documentation: Patient Rights and Expectations

Every Patient Entitled to Detailed Documentation

According to healthcare law, every patient has the right to receive detailed information about their healthcare and must receive documentation about it. During a typical medical treatment, you should receive the following documents:

Types of Mandatory Documents

• Outpatient record or discharge summary: Diagnosis, interventions, medications, complications, aftercare recommendations
• Copies of consent forms: What interventions the patient consented to
• Implant documentation: Type, serial number, manufacturer, expiration date (e.g., lenses)
• Applied medications list: Especially for sedation cases with dosages
• Aftercare instructions: Follow-up appointments, home care advice

Special Documentation for Implants

For every implanted device or implant (dental implants, artificial lenses, joint prostheses, etc.), you should receive detailed documentation:

• Identification stickers: Unique identifiers from implant packaging
• Technical specifications: Type, size, material, compatibility information
• Warranty and traceability: Manufacturer warranty conditions and tracking data
• Maintenance information: Required follow-up examinations and lifespan

Modern Patient Management Systems and Automation

Modern Patient Management Systems (PMS) are designed to automatically transfer data to EESZT:

• Automatic data transfer: Minimal human intervention in data recording
• Strict documentation protocols: Mandatory recording of all relevant information
• Quality control mechanisms: Automatic flagging of incomplete data
• Compliance audits: Regular checks to ensure completeness

Practical Guide: Steps for Missing EESZT Data

Initial Steps: Problem Identification and Documentation

If you find that a healthcare treatment does not appear in the EESZT system, I recommend the following systematic steps:

Phase 1: Verification and Documentation

1. Detailed EESZT data check: Through the EESZT citizen portal (with Client Gate identification) or the Health Window mobile application, thoroughly verify if the treatment is indeed missing
2. Record dates and details: Note exactly the date, time, type of treatment, and provider information
3. Collect existing documents: Gather all related medical documents, bills, certificates
4. Take screenshots: Create screenshots of the incomplete EESZT data as evidence

Phase 2: Official Inquiry

5. Written inquiry: Report the problem in writing (email or registered mail) to the healthcare provider's management
6. Legal references: Reference relevant legislation:
   • Act XLVII of 1997 on the processing and protection of health and related personal data
   • EMMI Decree 39/2016. (XII. 21.) on detailed EESZT rules
7. Set deadline: Request that they supplement the missing data recording within 15 days
8. Request written confirmation: When they complete the supplement, request written confirmation

Escalation Steps for Unsuccessful Initial Contact

If there is no change or you receive a rejecting response, you can take the following escalation steps:

Internal Complaint Handling Channels

• Patient rights representative: Contact the institution's patient rights representative
• Institution management: Directly to the chief executive or medical director
• Quality department: If available, to the institution's quality assurance department

External Authority Channels

• Government office: Complaint to the relevant government office's healthcare administrative body
• NAIH: Complaint to the National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information
• Public Health Authority: Contact regional offices of the National Public Health Center
• Court: As last resort, legal action at the territorially competent court

Long-term Consequences of Incomplete Documentation

Potential Problems Years Later

Special Situations and Risks

• Emergency care: Missing life-saving information can be critical
• Pre-surgical planning: Knowledge of previous interventions fundamental
• Medication management: Knowledge of previous reactions unavoidable
• Chronic diseases: Disease history tracking essential

EESZT System Future and Developments

Continuous Development and New Features

EESZT is a continuously evolving system with more and more functions becoming available. The most significant developments include:

eProfile System: Centralized Health Data Sheet

The eProfile contains the most important data of the patient's health status in centralized form:

• Chronic diseases: Documentation of diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases
• Allergies and hypersensitivities: Drug and other allergy documentation
• Implanted devices: Registry of implants, prostheses, pacemakers
• Regular medications: Permanent medication protocols
• Blood products: Transfusion history and compatibility
• Organ transplantation: Donor and recipient information
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy-related health data

Electronic Referral System Development

Critical Importance of Accurate Data Recording

One of the most important foundations of all these developments is that health data is accurately and completely recorded in the system. The effectiveness of future functions directly depends on data quality and completeness.

Practical Verification Guide for Patients

Importance of Regular EESZT Monitoring

As a patient, it is crucial to know your rights and proactively monitor your own data in the system. EESZT is accessible to the public in two ways:

Access Options

When to Check EESZT Data

• After every medical visit: Check within 1-2 days if treatment appeared
• After significant interventions: Verify documentation of surgeries, screenings
• After new medication prescription: Check prescriptions and drug interactions
• Regular intervals: Monthly or quarterly comprehensive review
• Before new doctor: Complete health history review

What to Do If You Find Errors

Regular monitoring can contribute to improving healthcare quality and better oversight of your own health. If you notice errors or deficiencies:

• Immediately document the problem with screenshots
• Collect all related medical documents
• Contact the affected provider
• Follow the escalation guide above if necessary