“We are now dealing with a situation where hospitals have staff, but there is no money even for doctors and nurses to treat patients as part of their everyday work. Hospitals are not operating at 100 percent,” said Jakub Kosikowski, spokesperson for the Supreme Medical Chamber (NIL), on TV Republika.
Medical procedures postponed indefinitely, hospital wards being closed, and the shameless statements of ruling coalition politicians claiming that “you can go to another city” to access healthcare if it is unavailable nearby – these are just a few examples showing that the National Health Fund (NFZ) is in a state of collapse. The deficit in this year’s NFZ budget may reach as much as 14 billion PLN.
And although, under public and media pressure, 3.5 billion PLN has already been transferred to the NFZ, the financial gap remains enormous. According to the Minister of Health, another billion from bonds may be added to save the situation. However, this is still far from enough.
“Hospitals are not operating at 100 percent”
Jakub Kosikowski, spokesperson for the Supreme Medical Chamber (NIL), appeared on TV Republika today to discuss in more detail the dramatic condition of Poland’s healthcare budget.
“Postponing and canceling procedures ‘until after the New Year’ has become a kind of movable feast of Polish healthcare. Apart from the pandemic period, it’s a recurring annual phenomenon. The media report on it every year. It was exactly the same last year. This year, however, we are short by as much as 10 billion PLN – still. Just a moment ago, it was 14 billion. Next year, the shortfall will reach 23 billion, and the deficit from this year will roll over into the next. In our view, we are reaching the point where this critical mass – postponed patients and lack of funds – is making the system completely dysfunctional and inefficient,” he said.
When asked about the government spokesman Adam Szłapka’s statement that the situation is under control, the NIL spokesperson replied, “Politicians are used to communicating that kind of message. This is nothing new – it happens every year, regardless of who is in power, except during the pandemic. It’s not an easy situation. Reforms require proper planning – beyond the horizon of a single parliamentary term.”
Asked whether such planning exists, he replied, “No. The plan is to survive until the elections. The changes proposed by the Minister are meant to ensure that next year there will be no shortage of funds. And that won’t be because there will be enough money, but because we will be spending it more slowly.”
“It’s not that the NFZ pays salaries to nurses and doctors, and whatever is left goes to treatment. It’s the opposite – the NFZ pays entirely for treatment, and only from what the hospital earns from this treatment are salaries paid. We are now in a situation where hospitals have staff, but no money even for doctors and nurses to treat patients as part of their regular work,” he said, adding that “hospitals are not operating at 100 percent.”
Kosikowski also pointed out the scale of the problem, referring to a post by Janusz Cieszyński previously cited by our newsroom.