Polish authorities have earmarked an extra 3.5 bn zlotys for the National Health Fund in 2025, yet the launch of a free IVF program in June has hit funding shortages.
Government Adds 3.5 bn Zlotys to NFZ Budget
The Cabinet Office hosted a meeting between Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska‑Grenda and Finance Minister Andrzej Domański. They confirmed a decision to provide an additional PLN 3.5 bn to the National Health Fund (NFZ). Combined with prior allocations, total fiscal support for NFZ in 2025 exceeds PLN 32 bn, aimed at securing service financing through the end of the year.
IVF Funding Shortfalls Highlighted by Doctors
Dr. Jakub Kosikowski reported that the Ministry of Health lacked sufficient funds for the IVF program, leading to treatment halts for several patients. He cited specialists who confirmed the shortage and noted the absence of funds to protect fertility in cancer patients. Dr. Jan Lewandowski explained that funding does not meet patient needs, and that infertility, a condition patients can wait for, suffers reduced efficacy when patients face long queues.
National IVF Program Launched in June 2024
The free IVF initiative commenced on 1 June 2024 for couples battling infertility. Global WHO data estimates 60–80 million couples affected worldwide, while Poland has roughly 1–1.5 million. Accordingly, the government committed PLN 2.5 bn over five years to facilitate family planning. The first IVF child was born at the end of January 2024, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that nearly 10 000 pregnancies had occurred within eight months of the program’s start.
