Research only for the selected? NIL: Facilities will limit admissions

Jakub Kosikowski, spokesman for the Supreme Medical Chamber, announced that several clinics had announced April restrictions on patient admission – due to changes planned by the National Health Fund in the settlement of diagnostic tests.

The NIL spokesman told journalists that several outpatient clinics, clinics, as well as outpatient endoscopy and diagnostic imaging centers have reported that their contracts with the National Health Fund have either expired or will soon expire and will limit the admission of patients in April.

According to Kosikowski, this was announced by: outpatient clinics and endoscopy clinics in Toruń, Włocławek (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship), in the voivodeship Świętokrzyskie, a studio in Warsaw, Zabrze (Silesian Voivodeship) and a hospital in Gryfino (West Pomeranian Voivodeship). He added that in the case of specialist clinics, reports come from the province. Mazowieckie, Lublin, including a large laboratory performing computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in Lublin.

Kosikowski added that entities that will soon limit patient admissions have received a smaller contract from the National Health Fund for 2026 with the information that the Settlement Fund has oversupplied. – After three months, they received information that there would in fact be no overperformance and their contract was expiring – he noted.

He noted that in some cases the contract with the Trust would only allow patients to be admitted once a week, when currently they are admitted five times a week. – Planned admissions will be canceled due to exhaustion of limits. Last year it concerned hospitals, and this year it concerned diagnostics and specialist clinics, Kosikowski said. He added that some doctors are informed that due to the limitation in patient admissions, they should look for other employment.

According to the NIL spokesman, patients will go to emergency departments to undergo diagnostic tests, and some patients will be admitted to hospitals for tests. – We are afraid of an increase in what used to be an inglorious part of medicine, i.e. dealing with acquaintances, phone calls from directors and politicians that someone should be admitted for diagnostic tests. – In a situation of limitation, priority will be given to those who have money or connections – he added.

Deputy Minister of Health Tomasz Maciejewski, asked on Thursday in the Sejm about the changes in settlements planned by the National Health Fund, said that the financial situation of the health care system is very difficult. Maciejewski mentioned the reasons for the National Health Fund's problems as the United Right government transferred the financing of services worth over PLN 7 billion to the National Health Fund without providing the money for it, the cost of which he estimated at over PLN 12 billion. He added that the cumulative cost of the so-called the increase act on the minimum wage in health care will amount to over PLN 71 billion in 2026. He emphasized that the structure of financing the activities of the National Health Fund has also changed – the share of health insurance contributions has dropped to 80%. in 2025. He noted that the subsidy from the state budget for the National Health Fund in 2024 amounted to nearly PLN 15 billion, in 2025 – PLN 33 billion, and the initial assumption for 2026 is PLN 30 billion.

The deputy head of the Ministry of Health assured that “patients are and will be safe”, and the changes proposed by the National Health Fund do not apply to children and adolescents under 18 years of age, oncology patients at the stage of diagnosis, treatment with a DILO card and people covered by the colorectal cancer prevention program.

The National Health Fund plans to limit the financing of four diagnostic tests: colonoscopy, gastroscopy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging performed above the limit. Currently, the Fund pays 100% for research performed above the contract value, and after the changes it would be 40%. Moreover, settlements of overperformance would take place after the end of the year, and not as currently, i.e. quarterly. The changes are to apply to settlements for the entire year 2026 and bring approximately PLN 800 million in savings. The draft regulation of the President of the National Health Fund shows that the new settlement rules will not cover services provided to children and people on the fast track oncology, i.e. patients with a DILO card.

Representatives of the Fund announced that similar adjustments could also cover outpatient specialist care (AOS), but the NFZ headquarters has not yet published a draft order of the President of the NFZ on this matter.

Representatives of hospitals and patient organizations warned that the changes announced by the National Health Fund will limit the availability of tests and lengthen queues. In a letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk dated March 23, the Alivia Onkofoundation opposed the planned changes in the financing of services by the National Health Fund. (PAP)

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