Poland’s Ministry of Health ends “Good Meal” pilot program, raising concerns about return to inadequate hospital meals that left patients starved.
Pilot Program Discontinued
At the end of last year, Poland’s Ministry of Health discontinued the “Good Meal” pilot program, for which over one billion zlotys had been allocated since its implementation in 2023.
Improved Nutrition Standards
The pilot program provided more funding for hospital meals, with 582 participating institutions receiving a daily rate of 25.62 PLN per hospitalized person. Prior to the pilot, the nutritional rate in hospitals did not exceed 10 PLN, with hospital directors deciding the amount.
Previous Cost-Cutting Measures
Before the pilot program, many hospitals eliminated their kitchens in favor of catering contracts to reduce costs. These arrangements often resulted in poor-quality food for patients, including monotonous and cold meals, with portions so small they were literally starvation-inducing.
Return to Old Practices?
Gazeta Prawna (DGP) is investigating whether the discontinuation of the “Good Meal in Hospital” pilot program means a return to those previous practices that compromised patient nutrition.
