New NHS Rehabilitation Rules: Referrals No Longer Sufficient

The Ministry of Health is proposing a significant overhaul of Poland’s state-funded rehabilitation system, mandating that patient qualification focus on objective functional assessments rather than just a basic physician referral.

Proposed Regulatory Changes

The Ministry of Health intends to replace the current 2013 regulations with a new legal framework governing rehabilitation services financed by the National Health Fund (NFZ). The proposed changes, outlined in a draft dated June 12, 2026, aim to address long-standing issues such as excessive wait times and the lack of standardized assessment tools for triaging patients.

Revised Qualification Process

While a medical referral will remain necessary to begin treatment, the qualification process will undergo substantial revision. Rehabilitation centers will be required to conduct a detailed evaluation of a patient’s functional status, recovery potential, and specific therapeutic needs. This shift aims to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach for patients with identical diagnoses.

Objective Functional Assessment

A core pillar of the project involves implementing objective functional assessment tools. The draft regulations specify medical scales and, in some cases, numerical performance thresholds that will dictate the appropriate type of rehabilitation, ensuring that decisions are based on actual physical ability rather than just a clinical label.

New Therapeutic Standards

The proposal introduces the concept of a “therapeutic goal,” where medical staff define achievable outcomes based on the patient’s current health status. Additionally, the system will utilize “intervention profiles,” which dictate specific teams of specialists tailored to the patient’s individual needs rather than a rigid, universal model.

Impact on Patient Access

The ministry maintains that these changes do not reduce the scope of guaranteed services or revoke the right to rehabilitation. However, because assessments will be more rigorous, two patients with the same diagnosis may be directed toward different treatment settings—ambulatory, home-based, or inpatient—to ensure those with the greatest functional limitations receive priority care.