Health care, medicinal services

The healthcare services market in Poland is one of the most important sectors of the economy, playing a key role in providing the population with access to proper healthcare. Like many other countries, Poland faces challenges related to the growing health needs of its society, an aging population, and the rising costs of medical treatment and healthcare. In response to these challenges, the healthcare sector in Poland is developing dynamically, with both public and private medical institutions working to meet the needs of patients.

Structure of the healthcare services market

The healthcare services market in Poland is divided into the public and private sectors.

1. Public sector – The cornerstone of public healthcare in Poland is the National Health Fund (NFZ), which finances healthcare services for citizens through the public health insurance system. Services offered by public healthcare facilities include hospital care, outpatient care, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and specialist treatments. Although the public system ensures broad access to medical services, it faces challenges such as long waiting times for specialists and a lack of adequate infrastructure in some regions.

2. Private sector – Changes in the healthcare market, including growing patient expectations and the availability of new medical technologies, have led to the rapid development of the private sector. Private medical facilities offer a wide range of services such as specialist consultations, diagnostics, surgeries, rehabilitation, and aesthetic medicine. The increasing interest in private healthcare is mainly driven by the desire to reduce waiting times for treatment and to have better access to modern technologies and specialists.

Trends in the healthcare services market in Poland

1. Telemedicine – One of the latest trends in Poland’s healthcare system is the development of telemedicine, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online consultations, remote health monitoring, and digital diagnostics are becoming more popular, providing patients with convenience and quick access to healthcare. Telemedicine also has the potential to reduce the burden on public healthcare facilities, allowing patients to quickly access primary healthcare services.

2. Aging society – In Poland, as in many European countries, the proportion of elderly people is increasing, which generates greater demand for medical services related to chronic diseases, rehabilitation, long-term care, and geriatric care. There is also a growing demand for elderly care services, including nursing homes, hospices, and home care services.

3. Investment in modern medical technologies – Poland is becoming increasingly open to innovations in medicine, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, personalized medicine, and precision medicine. These technologies help with diagnostics, treatment, and patient health management, improving treatment outcomes and patient comfort.

Healthcare financing in Poland

Healthcare financing in Poland primarily relies on health insurance contributions paid by citizens, as well as government budget allocations for the healthcare system. The National Health Fund (NFZ) is the main body responsible for managing public health funds. However, the public system faces challenges related to underfunding, which leads to problems with access to medical services, long waiting times, and limited resources.

On the other hand, the private sector, which is financed by patients, private health insurance, or employers, plays an increasingly important role in the healthcare system. Many people opt for additional health insurance or use private healthcare services to gain quicker access to doctors and specialists.

Challenges and prospects

The Polish healthcare system faces many challenges related to the rising costs of treatment, an aging population, a shortage of medical personnel, and unequal access to medical services across different regions of the country. Additionally, the system is dealing with challenges related to reforms and changing regulations aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services.

Despite these difficulties, the healthcare services market in Poland has great potential for development. Increased health awareness among the population, the development of new medical technologies, and greater investments in the private sector create opportunities to improve the quality of healthcare and access to modern medical services. In the future, we can expect further development of telemedicine, investment in modern medical facilities, and the growing importance of long-term and specialized care, especially in the context of an aging society.

In conclusion, the healthcare services market in Poland is developing dynamically and requires further investments and reforms to meet the growing health demands of society.