Pursuant to the applicable law, in 2026, public health spending should reach at least 6.8%. GDP. The financial plan of the National Health Fund and budget forecasts indicate that these expenses are to amount to PLN 250.4 billion, which means an increase of PLN 23.8 billion compared to 2025. However, in relation to the forecast GDP for 2026 (PLN 4,152.5 billion), this share will realistically amount to only 6.03%. — by 0.77 percentage points below the statutory purpose. The formal requirement will be met only thanks to the methodology comparing current expenditure with GDP from two years ago, which gives rate 6.85 percent GDP.
— The latest data show a disturbing picture. Although health expenditure in Poland is looking better and better compared to the EU, growing queues, longer waiting times and a rapid increase in hospital debt prove that the current level of financing does not keep up with the real needs of patients and the costs of medical facilities. Financial gap to the level of 7%. GDP for health is still PLN 42.6 billion – comments Łukasz Kozłowski, chief economist of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs.
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Poland is in the middle of the EU, but spending per capita is still low
According to Eurostat, Poland was in the middle of the list of EU countries in terms of public expenditure on health (6.27% of GDP in 2024)however, it still remains below the EU average of 8.03%. GDP. The average public expenditure on health per capita in Poland was EUR 1,699, while the EU average is EUR 3,089.
The availability of health services is deteriorating
The latest edition of the “Health Care Financing Monitor” indicates: further deterioration of the availability of health services. In outpatient specialist care in the third quarter of 2025 776.5 thousand urgent waitingwhich means an increase of 14.4 percent year to year. The median waiting time increased to 57.5 days (+21.4% y/y). Since the first quarter of 2022, the number of people waiting has increased by over 135%. , and the median waiting time by over 215%.
The longest queues concern day medical rehabilitation clinics (75.1 thousand), trauma and orthopedic surgery (73.4 thousand) and neurology (71.3 thousand).. In neurosurgical clinics, half of the 41,000 urgent patients wait in the queue for over 184 days.
In hospital care in the third quarter of 2025, the number urgent waiting lists increased to 119.1 thousand (+16.1% y/y), and the median waiting time was 21 days. In the selected benefits segment queues reached 801.9 thousand peopleof which outpatient physiotherapy is responsible for PLN 419.4 thousand. waiting times (median: 106.4 days).
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Hospital debt is growing rapidly
The financial situation of the public hospital sector is deteriorating. The due liabilities of SPZOZ increased for six consecutive quarters, reaching PLN 4.2 billion in the third quarter of 2025 (15.3% of all liabilities), which means an increase of almost 74%. within five quarters. The total debt of SPZOZ amounted to PLN 27.7 billion.
Increase in salary costs from July 2026.
The monitor also analyzes expected impact of the increase in the minimum basic salary in health care from July 1, 2026. The increase, resulting from data from the Central Statistical Office, is expected to amount to 8.82%. and will cover all professional groups specified in the Act. The estimated recommendations of AOTMiT regarding changes in the valuation of benefits indicate: additional cost for the National Health Fund from PLN 6.2 billion to PLN 11.2 billion per yeardepending on the variant.
The cost of implementing the law on the lowest wage is systematically increasing – with 6.1 percent public health expenditure in 2022 to the forecast 29.2%. in 2026. In absolute terms, this is an increase from PLN 9.3 billion to PLN 72.7 billion.
The latest FPP report emphasizes that Despite the formal increase in health spending, the health care system in Poland is facing increasing challenges: growing queues and hospital debt. Experts indicate that without systemic changes, the financial gap and problems in the availability of benefits will deepen.
