County hospitals across Poland are on the brink of financial ruin, initiating a week-long protest against systemic underfunding and NFZ restrictions.
County Hospitals on the Brink of Financial Ruin
County hospitals in Poland are facing a severe financial crisis, with 90% reporting losses in 2025. A week-long protest began Monday, with hospitals displaying black flags and staff wearing black shirts to draw attention to their plight.
The protest aims to pressure decision-makers to address the dramatic situation of small hospitals and their chronic underfunding. Hospitals are struggling with debts and insufficient funding from the National Health Fund (NFZ).
Financial Performance and Liquidity Concerns
A report by the Polish Association of Counties (ZPP) revealed that only 19 out of 207 county hospitals achieved a profit in 2025, meaning 91% operated at a loss. The total loss for county hospitals exceeded 1.26 billion złoty, with sales losses surpassing 1.86 billion złoty.
Nearly 79% of hospitals exhibit current liquidity below a safe threshold, indicating an inability to meet short-term obligations. Only 6% of surveyed facilities reached a secure liquidity level.
Wage Costs and Funding of Pay Raises
The largest financial burden for hospitals are wage costs, averaging nearly half of total expenses, and reaching up to 80% in some facilities. The issue isn’t excessive staff salaries, but a flawed system for funding pay increases, according to Waldemar Malinowski, president of the All-Poland Association of Employers of County Hospitals (OZPSP).
Protest Demands: NFZ and Government Action
The OZPSP is demanding changes to NFZ financing restrictions on AOS (hospital care) and rehabilitation, as well as revisions to the reimbursement rules for MRI, CT scans, gastroscopy, and colonoscopy. They are calling for 100% payment for overruns in diagnostics and quarterly settlements instead of annual ones.
Organizers also emphasize the need for increased funding for healthcare overall, with approximately 90% of hospitals expected to participate in the week-long protest.
