Overview

Poland has a health system based on social health insurance (SHI) that is universal, covering almost all of the resident population. The scope of services covered under SHI is broad, but there are important coverage gaps such as for reimbursable medicines where significant cost-sharing is required and for dental services which are excluded from the benefits package. Health expenditure accounted for 6.5% of GDP in 2019, lower than the averages across EU countries and in the WHO European Region as a whole. The government has pledged to progressively increase public funding for health care. Currently out-of-pocket (OOP) payments make up about one fifth of health spending and take-up of voluntary health insurance is also substantial (8%).

Much of the focus of recent reforms has been on improving the organization of care for some of the key health problems, including cancer, cardiac diseases and mental health conditions. This included skill-mix changes among health professionals and strengthening of care coordination, including within primary care, which are being rolled out. The recent implementation of e-health solutions, to some extent accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, can support these efforts. Reforms plans in the hospital sector target restructuring and improving efficiency as well as the quality of inpatient care through authorisation and accreditation of health care providers, monitoring of adverse events and patient compensation.