Poland debates hospital system reforms and restructuring

Poland is facing significant discussions regarding the restructuring of its hospital system. Filip Nowak, President of the National Health Fund (NFZ), has suggested that many hospitals currently operate 24-hour emergency departments that could instead function on a scheduled basis to better meet resident needs and optimize medical personnel costs. He noted that approximately 180 surgical departments operate around the clock, even when emergency procedures are performed only once a week.

New regulations introduced in September 2025 allow hospitals to phase out or re-profile unprofitable departments. Under these rules, facilities can receive 50 percent of their previous lump-sum payment for two years while signing new contracts for modified services. Data indicates that 36 such applications have already been submitted to the NFZ.

Experts and politicians have raised concerns about the lack of a long-term, holistic strategy. Wioleta Tomczak, a member of the health commission, described current government proposals as an “antibiotic” for a long-standing bacterial infection in the system, arguing that stability and political consensus are needed to ensure changes remain intact across different administrations. Additionally, analysts point out that Poland maintains a high number of hospital beds compared to the EU average, with hospital spending accounting for over 50 percent of total healthcare expenditure, necessitating deeper structural reforms.