The Polish Ministry of Health has proposed a major prescription reform for 2026 that introduces 60-day reimbursement limits, single-product e-prescriptions, and expanded digital authority for pharmacists.
Prescription Reimbursement and Financial Impact
The most significant change involves financial limits, as the project maintains annual prescriptions but introduces a reimbursement cap of 60 days of therapy. While patients can still purchase larger quantities, they must pay the full commercial price for any supply exceeding the initial 60-day window. For example, with a monthly medication cost of 100 PLN, a 60-day supply costs 100 PLN with a 50 percent subsidy. However, for a 120-day supply, the cost rises to 300 PLN, and for 180 days, the cost reaches 500 PLN because the subsidy applies only to the first 60 days.
This shift changes the current practice where many patients stock up on medications due to concerns regarding availability or rising prices. Furthermore, the new system will link prescriptions to specific ICD-10 diagnoses. While this aims to organize the process, some patients may lose their right to a subsidy if their previous medical diagnosis was recorded imprecisely, particularly when changing doctors.
Structural Changes to E-Prescriptions
The reform introduces a “one e-prescription equals one drug” rule, representing a major organizational change. Although the system allows for the “packaging” of prescriptions so that patients still receive a set of codes, every product must be issued separately. This change is intended to increase transparency by ensuring each prescription is assigned to a specific medical indication, though it may increase the administrative formalities for patients when providing codes at pharmacies.
Pharmacist Authority and Continuing Prescriptions
One of the most breakthrough changes is the introduction of “continuing prescriptions.” According to aptekarski.com, pharmacists with access to a patient’s data via the Internet Patient Account will be able to issue prescriptions for medications the patient is already taking. This solution is intended to reduce the number of “administrative” doctor visits, offering significant relief for chronic patients with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease.
Clinical Obligations and Digital Oversight
New regulations will strengthen the role of IT systems, as every e-prescription will be sent to a central system containing dosage and disease data. Pharmacists will gain access to more data, allowing them to check drug interactions, verify treatment history, and more safely continue therapy. However, questions have arisen regarding responsibility, particularly in cases where system data is incomplete. Additionally, while doctors can still include a “do not substitute” note, they will now be required to provide a medical justification.
Current Legislative Status and Outlook
As of now, the project remains in the pre-consultation stage at the Ministry of Health. There is currently no confirmed date for the law to enter into force or a specific parliamentary schedule. The Ministry has indicated that the act will not move quickly through the legislative process, meaning real changes may not appear until the coming years.
