Common protest against the reduction of the health contribution. Patients, doctors, nurses and local governments
The Alivia Foundation, bringing together oncological patients, organized a meeting entitled “Financial gap of the health care system in the light of work on lowering the health contribution”. Representatives of all participants of the health care system took part in it, and the conclusion from it is dramatic.
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Health protection is already curling up
Dr. Maria Libura, an expert of the health care system, warned that the change of health contribution recently adopted by the Sejm (planned since 2026) would cause chaos in the behavior of the medical staff. – The practice of “careful treatment” is coming back.
Patients' entries are postponed to the next year, because it is not known whether the National Health Fund will pay for the benefits. Therefore, we can deal with the curling of a public system – She said.
Sebastian Gonciarz, chairman of the residents' agreement, simply said that the situation was tragic.
– There are delayed payments, non -performance, no benefits. The system does not work Gonciarz said. He pointed out that if young doctors after graduation do not get remuneration before one or two months, they will not want to work in such a system in the future.
Dr. Maria Libura also pointed to the wider effects of changes for the economy.
– When the public system weakens, inflation of treatment costs in the private sector breaks out of control. There is a temptation to abuse. And yet health is one of the most important critical infrastructures of the state, on which the development of the economy and resistance to natural disasters depend. The system should also be ready in the event of a potential armed conflict – emphasized Dr. Libura.
She also pointed out that the government is planning a health care reform because Currently, the hospital network is not adapted to demographics and patients' needs. – If we want to reform, we must increase financing, just as Germany is doing. This is where the high and so high, reaching 19 percent. health premium. By changing the system, we have to pay for changes. Currently, we are at a very dangerous moment – the reform of cutting off financing will end with the fact that all underfunded areas will close faster. We've been doing it once when psychiatry was simply starved – Dr. Libura added.
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The game is about billions for patients' benefits
Alicja Fudali from the Oncology Foundation would like the government and the National Health Fund to finally present a plan to leave the crisis.
– Where exactly the funds for the National Health Fund come from. Today we hear in general that from the state budget. But from what part of it? We haven't heard any specifics so far. I would like to hear a clear declaration from the payer: Yes, we have such a hole, but we also have a strategy as to cover it in five years. This is the most lacking today, an honest plan and responsibility ” – emphasized Alicja Fudali.
Mariusz Trojanowski from the National Association of Poviat Hospitals indicated specific numbers.
– We counted that this year we need PLN 18 billion for real increases for health protection, and the information available can be estimated that we can only get PLN 4.5 billion. And only for full -time employees. The rest will be omitted. This will break up professional solidarity, as Dr. Libura mentioned – said Trojanowski.
This is not the only problem. In fact, hospitals will only get money for increases. – We will not have funds for treatment at all Trojanowski said. He noted that currently hospitals and local governments that run them pay for patients. – They are indebted because they have no choice. To close the unit, you need to get the Governor's consent, and we will not get it. So, on the one hand, the state does not even pay for already performed treatment, and and forces to conduct business – emphasized Trojanowski. And he bitterly summed up what is happening with health care: “We put on a sailor for the dead”
Krystyna Ptok, chairwoman of the National Trade Union of Nurses and Midwives, drew attention to the problem resulting from demographics. – Year 1955 is just 70 years old. In a moment, money for the treatment of 65+ people is not enough, which often struggle with multi -chore. And we cut the premium? – She asked rhetorically. She warned that the report ordered by OPZZ shows that by aging society, staffing needs would increase, which is not said at all.
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Few will gain on a lower health insurance
Dr. Maria Libura, an expert of the health care system, emphasized that The act is not only irresponsible, but contrary to the constitution and the principle of social justice.
– People who save PLN 100 on the health premium tomorrow will have to spend tens of thousands of zlotys on the simplest procedure or fall into health, waiting in a long -term queue of a less and less efficient public system, of which they do not even realize. On the other hand, there may be a situation that an employee on an employment contract will pay twice as high a health contribution than his boss, but conducting business activity and working on the contract – Dr. Libur. And he is a boss who is financially better, he will save more.
On the other hand, as emphasized by Marta Bednarek from the Rak'n'Roll Foundation, Society does not understand how the system works, that this is insurance, so the insured pays in the event of illness. – On the other hand At the same time, they pay several hundred zlotys for private medical packages, for which they get a fraction of what the public system offers Bednarek said.
In turn, Renata Górna from the National Trade Union Agreement reminded that Nobody talks about employees injured by Polish order.
A billion hole in the National Health Fund
At the beginning of April, the Sejm adopted a government law reducing the health premium from 2026 for approx. 2.5 million entrepreneurs. In total, their charges will be lower by approx. PLN 5 billion. Ministers: finance and health ensure that we will not have less money in the National Health Fund even for PLN 1 because of the decision made by the Sejm. “If it will be PLN 5 billion in defect, then PLN 5 billion from the state budget will receive more to the National Health Fund as compensation,” said Izabela Leszczyna, Minister of Health.
However, as calculated by Wojciech Wiśniewski, an expert of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs, this is almost the entire budget of the Podlasie Branch of the National Health Fund. This means that The Sejm took money to finance health in one province. This means that in 2026, the NFZ budget will lack nearly PLN 50 billion. So much in total you will have to transfer to the NFZ account from the state budget. Revenues from the health contribution will be PLN 50 billion too low to finance benefits for patients.
What next?
On Tuesday, April 22 this year, so just after Christmas, a meeting of the Senate will take place, at which the controversial law will be discussed providing for a reduction in the health contribution for entrepreneurs. Joanna Kazana from Alivia announced that she would prepare a joint position for Friday, which will show that the Act united all groups of healthcare system stakeholders. – United in a common protest against lowering the premium – emphasized Joanna Kazana. The appeal is to be sent to all senators. The participants agreed that It is necessary not to cut the premium and put out fires, but to increase the outlays and start a serious reform.
