NFZ Chief Reveals 14 Billion Zloty Budget Deficit

National Health Fund President Filip Nowak announced on Tuesday that the fund faces a 14 billion zloty budget gap, clarifying that this deficit concerns payments for medical services exceeding contract values.

The Scale of the Deficit

Filip Nowak, head of the National Health Fund (NFZ), confirmed during a TVP Info interview that the fund is currently facing a budget hole of approximately 14 billion zloty. He emphasized that this figure represents the shortfall for services provided above the initial contractual values.

Despite the deficit, Nowak assured that the NFZ continues to meet its primary obligations. He stated that all existing contracts with healthcare providers are being fulfilled on schedule and without disruption to current operations.

Proposed Changes and Recovery Plans

In late June, the NFZ introduced draft regulations to modify the financing of excess services. Under the new rules, instead of a quarterly payment schedule, facilities will be required to submit payment applications at the end of the full accounting year.

These changes are set to apply to services starting July 1, 2026, covering cataract surgeries, rehabilitation for individuals with significant disabilities, and specific outpatient specialist consultations for adults. Services for children and youth under 18 remain exempt from these adjustments.

Government Oversight and Health Sector Reform

Minister of Health Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda is scheduled to brief the government on health system reforms this Tuesday. The Ministry of Health is currently conducting public consultations on four draft regulations aimed at addressing performance issues.

These actions follow demands from Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who issued warnings regarding potential personnel changes due to reports of irregularities in the healthcare system. The state’s total planned expenditure on healthcare for this year stands at just under 248 billion zloty.