Polish hospitals are seeing increased complaints about costly parking fees and harsh penalties imposed by private operators, prompting a parliamentary inquiry.
Hospital Parking Fees Draw Criticism
Parking operators at hospitals are accused of profiting excessively from patients and their families, with concerns raised over restrictive parking rules and inflexible time limits.
Patients report receiving fines for minor delays in extending their parking time, even by just a few minutes, despite often being in stressful situations related to medical appointments or hospital visits.
Two-Minute Delay Results in $26 Fine
Patients at the Pszczyna County Hospital are facing significant fines for minor parking violations. One woman received a 120 złoty ($26 USD) fine after a two-minute delay in renewing her parking session while accompanying an injured coworker.
The hospital acknowledges the stressful circumstances patients face and states the parking is managed by an external operator under contract, intended to ensure parking space turnover.
Systemic Problem and Parliamentary Intervention
The restrictive parking system has become the subject of a parliamentary interpellation by MP Małgorzata Pępek, who highlights the financial burden placed on patients and their families.
The current structure, with external operators, lacks flexibility in offering concessions to patients, the elderly, or those with hospitalized family members, adding unexpected costs to healthcare access.
Constitutional Concerns Raised
The interpellation argues that the lack of uniform regulations – including maximum fees, free parking provisions, and accommodations for disabled individuals – may violate Article 68, Section 2 of the Polish Constitution, which guarantees equal access to public healthcare.
Proposed solutions include a statutory obligation to provide free parking for patients with referrals or hospitalizations, a minimum free parking period, and guaranteed free spaces for those with disabilities.
Ministry of Health Declines Systemic Intervention
The Ministry of Health, in a response to the parliamentary inquiry, stated it does not see a basis for systemic regulation of parking at public hospitals.
The Ministry clarified that parking infrastructure is not considered a healthcare service and is not publicly funded, and the Minister has no authority to influence hospital parking policies.
The Ministry suggests hospitals can include preferential rates or exemptions in their contracts with parking operators, but ultimately, hospital directors are responsible for managing parking facilities.
