Over 110 county hospitals across Poland are protesting a financial situation they claim threatens patient care, with more joining the action.
Hospital Protests Gain Momentum
County hospitals throughout Poland are protesting their financial situation, with 110 facilities confirmed to be participating and more declaring their support, according to Tomasz Paczkowski, Vice President of the Polish Association of County Hospital Employers, on Tuesday.
The protest, which began Monday, stems from the hospitals’ poor financial health.
Protest Actions and Timeline
Participating hospitals are displaying flags, and staff are wearing black shirts. Placards with the slogan “Hospital bed will wait, illness won’t” are visible on hospital grounds. The protest is scheduled to continue until April 24th and includes staff efforts to raise patient awareness about the state of healthcare.
Growing Debt and Funding Concerns
The Polish Association of County Hospital Employers (OZPSP) reports that current healthcare funding policies are driving facilities towards collapse and endangering patient safety. The lack of settlements for 2025, limitations on funding for overruns, and undervalued services mean most county hospitals are operating at a loss, with cumulative debts reaching billions of złoty.
NFZ Policy Changes and Impact
The association highlights concerns over new National Health Fund (NFZ) announcements regarding limitations on funding for rehabilitation and changes to the reimbursement rules for CT, MRI, gastroscopy, and colonoscopy scans. These changes, implemented in April, introduce so-called “degressive rates,” where the NFZ pays only 60% of the standard rate for these procedures performed above a contractually agreed-upon volume.
NFZ Response and Overrun Payments
The NFZ stated on Monday that it is settling funds with medical facilities, primarily hospitals, for overruns – services provided beyond contracted plans. Payments for overruns in unlimited services, drugs in therapeutic programs, and chemotherapy for 2025 are nearly complete, with additional funds from the Ministry of Health allocated for limited services like mechanical ventilation.
Hospital Reform and Consolidation
A hospital reform law came into effect last September, allowing hospitals to consolidate and restructure departments without risking their NFZ contracts. The Ministry of Health (MZ) believes consolidation will improve patient care through higher quality treatment, comprehensive care, shorter waiting times, and better access to modern diagnostics. The government has allocated 1.149 billion złoty for hospital consolidation.
Demographic Realities and Funding Gap
The MZ argues that the healthcare system is being adapted to demographic realities and the existing funding gap. The funding gap in the NFZ budget for 2026 was initially estimated at 23 billion złoty, but the Ministry now estimates it to be around 18 billion złoty this year.