Poland is introducing new rules giving priority access to medical specialists for adopted children and families of military personnel.
New Priorities in Healthcare Access
If both changes are implemented, the list of privileged groups in the healthcare system will significantly expand. For some patients, this could mean a genuinely shorter path to seeing a specialist.
How Priority Access Works
The right to a priority visit does not eliminate the need for referrals or the freedom to choose any available appointment date. It means that eligible patients are not placed on the standard waiting list and should be seen on the day of their request or, if that’s not possible, at the earliest available appointment.
In ambulatory specialist care, regulations stipulate that the first visit should be provided no later than within 7 business days of the request.
Adopted Children Get Priority
The Ministry of Family has announced amendments to the law on supporting families and the foster care system. According to the proposal, adopted children would gain the right to healthcare services outside the standard queue.
The justification is the need for rapid access to diagnostics, therapy, and specialists – particularly in situations where the child requires psychological support or treatment resulting from previous health experiences. The changes will take effect after the legislative process is completed and the law is published in the Journal of Laws.
Military Families Get Priority
Simultaneously, a bill on the Military Family Card is being processed in the Sejm. It proposes, among other things, priority access to healthcare facilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense.
According to the proposal, eligible individuals would be military personnel, retired military personnel, and their families. The priority would primarily apply to clinics and hospitals under the Ministry of National Defense, not the entire National Health Fund system.
Current Priority Groups
Currently, the right to priority healthcare services includes, among others: pregnant women, persons with disabilities, war veterans, and people with rare diseases.
These rights include services in primary care, ambulatory specialist care, and hospital treatment funded from public funds.
Will the New Rules Reduce Queues?
Expanding the catalog of privileged groups does not eliminate systemic problems with healthcare accessibility. However, it does shift some patients to a priority mode.
From the perspective of adoptive families and military communities, this represents a real facilitation. From the system’s perspective, it presents another organizational challenge for facilities that must manage both standard waiting lists and a priority system simultaneously.
