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In a significant move, President Andrzej Duda, alongside Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, ceremoniously signed a bill on Tuesday to widen the eligibility criteria for free medication. The expansion now includes children up to 18 years old and seniors over 65. This amendment affects both the Act on Healthcare Services Financed from Public Funds and the Act on Reimbursement for Medicines, Special Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices.
The President of the Republic of Poland signed the Act of July 13, 2023, amending the Act on Health Care Services Financed from Public Funds and the Act on Reimbursement of Medicines, Special Purpose Foodstuffs, and Medical Devices.
The act is part of a broadly conceived program to support Polish families.
Until now, the list of Ministry of Health-approved free medicines was applicable to individuals above 75 years of age.
The introduction of free medication for seniors from the age of 65 and children up to 18 was initially announced in mid-May by Deputy Prime Minister and PiS leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, during the “Programowy Ul Prawa i Sprawiedliwości” convention. During the signing event, Prime Minister Morawiecki emphasized that the healthcare sector, in its broad sense, constantly faces a shortage of funds. He reflected on the remarkable growth in healthcare spending since 2015, underscoring the commitment to invest in the citizens’ well-being.
Premier Morawiecki added that this healthcare investment not only aligns with the government’s programs and strategies but is also backed by concrete actions.