Poland healthcare system undergoes structural reforms and ZUS program milestones

Poland's healthcare system is undergoing several structural shifts involving the National Health Fund (NFZ) and the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).

NFZ President Filip Nowak has advocated for hospital consolidation, arguing that there are too many hospitals maintaining costly 24-hour shifts when many could operate on a planned basis. This comes as hospitals begin to phase out certain departments, such as obstetrics and ophthalmology, to adapt to demographic changes and new funding regulations. Additionally, the NFZ is proposing new quality assessment criteria for primary care clinics, which may include financial penalties for failing to meet specific metrics like the number of home visits or preventive screenings.

Separately, the ZUS medical rehabilitation program, which celebrates its 30th anniversary, continues to focus on occupational prevention. The program aims to help workers recover from illnesses or injuries to avoid disability pensions. Since 1996, nearly 1.8 million people have benefited from this free service, which covers treatment, accommodation, and meals. Recent updates allow physiotherapists to issue rehabilitation referrals, expanding the scope of medical assessments.