Poland faces rising costs from mental health absenteeism and sanatorium no-shows

In Poland, significant challenges are emerging within the healthcare and labor sectors. Data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) indicates that mental and behavioral disorders accounted for 34.1 million days of sick leave in 2025, representing 14.1% of all sick leave days. This marks a 69% increase in absence days due to mental health issues since 2019. Notably, burnout-related issues (code Z73) saw a 32% increase in medical certificates, while stress-related disorders (code F43) were a primary driver of growth. Employers paid 14.2 billion PLN in sick pay in 2025, a figure that does not include the indirect costs of absenteeism or presenteeism.

Simultaneously, the sanatorium system is facing substantial financial losses due to patient no-shows. In the first half of 2026, approximately 12,000 referrals to sanatoriums were not utilized, resulting in losses exceeding 75.5 million PLN. This brings the total losses over the last two years to more than 108 million PLN. These empty slots result in wasted resources, including accommodation, meals, and medical staff time. The government is considering new measures to address this, such as a one-year waiting period for repeat visits, mandatory arrival confirmation, and more effective reserve lists.