The sick shoved off driver’s seat

Photo: Peeter Langovits

Currently, only family doctor can inform Road Administration that certain drivers should not grab the wheel, due to health problems. Soon, medical specialists and occupational health doctors will have the same rights, as, regrettably, family doctors may not be aware of their patients’ declining health. Also, the new order forces people to personally announce deterioration of health.

This summer, Postimees covered concern of rehabilitation doctors: lots of patients, having suffered a stroke or brain damage, only initially recovered, sit behind the wheel even though warned by doctors to wait because of health risks. As confirmed by Road Administration, they only annul health certificates required to drive as proposed by family doctors.

Back then, family doctors’ representative Diana Ingerainen admitted that family doctors may be totally unaware of serious health problems of people in their lists, as people have been treated by other physicians and have not informed them of their sicknesses. The more so that there is no requirement to do that.

Ms Ingerainen added that the doctors were dreaming of a solution where and automatic information system would let Road Administration know of changes in people’s health situation. Now, a corresponding bill has been prepared by social ministry in cooperation with family doctors and Estonian eHealth Foundation.

Report the change

According to initial plans, the law to enter into force on June 1^st 2014 allows medical specialists and occupational health doctors, as well as family doctors, to alter validity of health certificate, having diagnosed health conditions excluding the right to drive. «The clause is necessary to ensure security of people concerned and the surrounding society,» assure the preparers of the bill.

Having heard of the change, Ms Ingerainen said this was the very thing family doctors wanted. «If every doctor finding a permanent health problem may register it [in eHealth information portal] and send a notice to traffic register, which will send the people for a medical check – this is a step forward,» she said.

While it has, up to now, been complained that the eHealth system, long in the making, does not include data of all patients; Ms Ingerainen says the situation has changed. She added that, provided the existence of user friendly technical capabilities, the medical people will hop on board, especially when so required by patients. «Like it happened with digital prescriptions,» she said.

The law will also include a clause that people are under obligation to have an additional medical check, having a health problem excluding driving. «Every driving licence holder must be diligent regarding the changes in his/her health, if the change endangers health and lives of themselves and other road users,» stress the people behind the bill.

This is common practice in other countries, where holders of driving licences are expected to notify of changes in their health so doctors may assess the situation. Pursuant to the bill, health certificates would not automatically become invalid due to diagnosis; rather, the drivers would be required to undergo new medical checks.

Pursuant to the bill, occupational health doctors will acquire the rights to assess people’s ability to drive cars. The numbers of doctors in Estonia declining, Ms Ingerainen deems this to be prudent.

«Having passed the ever so tight tests to become a pilot, a person should not come to family doctor to see if he can drive,» she said as an example.

Up to now, such changes were held back as doctors were unable to check people’s backgrounds. «With all doctors assessing people on equal basis and eHealth will work fine; then there are no reasons why occupational health doctors might not issue the certificates,» said Ms Ingerainen.

eCertificate coming

The new bill prescribes that, in the future, the state will be informing drivers of health certificates’ expiry. Pursuant to the amendment, Road Administration is to issue, with 30 days notice, an advance message regarding the need to pass next medical check, by mobile phone or e-mail, as otherwise their right to drive would be suspended.

Also, the health certificate needed for right to drive will become electronic; the doctors will compile these on basis of information found at eHealth, performing extra checks if needed or sending people to medical specialists.