Comparative European Politics

Poland: Healthcare System

Origins:

1952 Polish People’s Republic Constitution

Guaranteed universal free health care

ACD Systems Digital Imaging

1970s-1990s decline

no new hospitals built

poor pay for healthcare workers

shortages of GPs, nurses

parallel system

informal economy

gray market

doctors “moonlighting” make house calls

Post-Communist Reform

Ministry of Health

Creates list of covered benefits (free at point of service);

Sets premiums for unemployed, pensioners

those on social security, farmers, veterans, military, police, civil servants;

Capital expenditures for hospitals and clinics;

Policymaking/administration of:

Blood services, health policy, AIDs prevention and control

drug addiction and control, alcohol addiction prevention

inspections of sanitation

health services, prescription drugs and devices

1997 General Health Insurance Act

went into effect in January 1999

obligatory for everyone to have health insurance

created National Health Fund

premiums taken out of payroll

premiums are 7.5% of base pay

most of the cost of the premiums can be deducted from income taxes (all but .25% of the base pay)

employers given .1% commission on paying the premiums

for self-employed, base is set according to income (not less than 75% of the average pay for their sector)

Contracts with service providers are concluded at the level of vovoidship branches of the fund;

Farmers

Premiums collected by Special Social Insurance Institutions

base set according to price of .5 quintal of rye from each hectare of land (up to 50 ha)

Also have special funds set up for unemployed, students, veterans, social security recipients, civil servants, police, military.

Private System

Health Stats