Poland’s program providing rental of assistive technology for people with disabilities will be terminated by the end of 2026, after 73% of purchased equipment went unused.
Program Closure and Timeline
The “Assistive Technology Rental for People with Disabilities” program will be phased out by the end of 2026, according to Bożena Borowiec, Deputy President of the Management Board of PFRON, as announced to the Sejm on Tuesday.
The program was formally closed on December 31, 2025, with ongoing efforts to fulfill existing agreements and applications submitted through the end of that year.
Millions Spent, Limited Access
Approximately 96 million złoty was spent on equipment, but a significant portion – 73% – never reached users. This included items like scooters and electric wheelchairs, many of which became unusable due to uncharged batteries during storage.
Of the approximately 14,500 items purchased, 7,100 were hearing aids, with only around 20% of those being rented out.
Delayed Implementation and Secrecy
The equipment was purchased in October 2022 with a confidentiality clause, before the program’s framework was even adopted by the Supervisory Board in January 2023. Legal changes enabling cooperation between PFRON and the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS) were not introduced until May 2023.
Following a change in PFRON management, efforts were made to address the program’s shortcomings in collaboration with RARS.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Access
Two prosecutor’s investigations are underway concerning the purchase and maintenance of the equipment, and details regarding the procurement decisions remain undisclosed.
The Ministry of Interior and Administration, RARS, and PFRON are collaborating to ensure continued access to assistive technologies after the program’s closure.