One of the characteristics of diseases and conditions is that different illnesses often affect people to completely different degrees and with completely different frequencies. With the advancement of modern medicine, organizations have begun to take a more serious look at the problem of rare diseases. However, the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases are still highly problematic. One of the problems associated with this is the low revenue from such drugs. Due to the fact that some diseases are very rare, the cost of the process of developing and introducing them to the market is disproportionate to the expected sales of such drugs. This happens because of a very narrow group of people affected by such diseases. Drugs for these rare diseases are called orphan drugs or orphan medicinal products (Orphan medicinal products).
The Polish Act on the Protection of Health against the Consequences of Using Tobacco and Tobacco Products (Journal of Laws 1996, No. 10, item 55, as amended) has undergone several significant changes in recent years.
On March 31, 2025, a law introducing a ban on the sale of heated tobacco products with a characteristic aroma was signed. It is worth mentioning that Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100 of 29 June 2022 amending Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the abolition of certain exemptions for heated tobacco products (OJ L 283, 2022, p. 4), which required EU Member States to introduce such a ban, waited almost 3 years for implementation.
At the time of the act’s signing, work was underway on two further draft bills. The first of these had already been submitted and adopted as the Act of 21 May 2025 amending the Act on the Protection of Health against the Effects of Using Tobacco and Tobacco Products (Journal of Laws of 2025, item 799).
Algorithms can be used in machine learning. A medical algorithm can help and guide the user on how to treat their patient and predict what condition they might potentially suffer from. This allows the system to provide health analysis based on the data provided. It is crucial to notice that algorithms can bring in more accuracy into medical diagnosis. This data can help a doctor to make recommendations on future steps in their patients’ treatment.
Machine learning that uses algorithms can be classified as medical devices. Those medical devices can be used for:
In-Vitro diagnosis
Assessment of public health
Prediction of the possibility of diseases
Detection of health conditions such as brain diseases, cancer etc.
Biotechnology is the application of science and technology to living organisms, their parts, and models, in order to improve the properties of living and non-living materials, applied scientific research, products, and services. This definition was developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Another definition was provided by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity: biotechnology refers to any technological solution that uses biological systems, living organisms, or their derivatives to produce or modify products or processes. Biotechnology has been identified as one of the areas most likely to contribute to the development of the global economy in the coming years, as it does not pose a direct threat to humans or the environment; on the contrary, its use and development aim to increasingly improve resource utilization while maintaining sustainable development and environmental protection policies. Biotechnology is a field with enormous potential, as its development creates a significant number of new jobs, and development in this area will bring results that will improve the operation of many economic sectors, reducing costs and increasing profits. It has been recognized as a critical technology from the perspective of economic security.
The problem of regulating diligence clauses in employment contracts in the laboratory industry is essential on the basis of Polish and EU law. These issues shall also consider the general consequences of breaching employee obligations in the form of the so-called Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles.
For some time in the business turnover we can observe the practice of including in employment contracts clauses concerning professionalism and professional diligence in the actions of future employees. As a rule, the clause at issue imposes an obligation on the employee to perform their tasks in a professional manner, adequate to their position and in accordance with standard operating procedures. In addition, all actions of the prospective employee must conform to the recommendations and directives of the supervisor and comply with the applicable law.
The laboratory industry is no exception in this area. It imposes an obligation on employees and contractors to act not only diligently but also based on the principles of Good Laboratory Practice. These principles have been in place since 1978 and regulate issues such as quality assurance in drug testing and development, the prevention of pharmaceutical scandals, and ensuring performance standards for laboratory areas. In addition, the principles regulate such key issues as staffing, space requirements and the quality of equipment and inspection processes for laboratory areas.
