According to data published by the Central Statistical Office on Thursday At 244 hospitals operating in Poland as many as 146 showed a net loss in the first quarter. The total loss was PLN 346 million and was 22 percent. higher year on year. And all this despite the increase in revenues by 19 percent. Year on year to PLN 7.7 billion and a 36 % increase in subsidies. up to PLN 141 million.
Expenditure on remuneration, as well as expenses for foreign services in which B2B contracts are hidden, went up almost at the same pace as revenues, Employment increased by over 6 percent. up to 78.2 thousand people. Wages already accounted for 40.3 percent. all operating costs of hospitals, While a year earlier it was below 40 percent. However, this is only one of the factors that affected the increase in losses.
Hospitals are waiting for the cutting of the feet by the MPC
Not only the borrowers, the government, but also hospitals wait long for a reduction in interest rates. The costs of interest paid by hospitals on loans went up this year by as much as 163 percent. up to PLN 77 million – results from the CSO data. This is a consequence of an increase in debt by 30 percent. up to PLN 17.1 billion. In this Long -term debt went up by as much as 89 percent. up to PLN 4.8 billion.
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The losses did not translate into a decrease in the investment. The value of these newly started increased by 6 percent. up to PLN 83 million, and the expenditure on buildings increased by 38 percent. up to PLN 95 million. PLN 19 million was spent on machines and devices, i.e. by 26 percent. More yaws. Why do the directors not cut investment expenses in such a difficult situation? An explanation may be what happened in previous years.
The loss in the first quarter was both in 2024 and 2023, but the whole financial year ended for hospitals in the plus. And so, 2023, hospitals finished PLN 293 million, although the first three months of the year began a loss of PLN 354 million. At that time, 102 units at 247 showed the loss. In 2024, 102 were also in the minus of 250 large hospitals and the total net result was in the plus and amounted to PLN 218 million. Apparently, the National Health Fund applies in subsequent parts of the year the funds, including for surplus.
We asked the Ministry of Health to refer to the above data and we are still waiting for an answer.
Author: Jacek Frączyk, Business Insider Polska editor
