Poland healthcare: NFZ authorization and sanatorium access

In Poland, recent developments regarding the National Health Fund (NFZ) highlight both administrative requirements and patient access challenges. The Municipal Hospital in Świnoujście has obtained NFZ authorization for five years, a requirement under the Act on Quality in Healthcare and Patient Safety. However, this authorization is not a guarantee of continuous operation or guaranteed funding for all departments; the NFZ retains the right to terminate contracts if a facility fails to meet specific standards or loses necessary qualifications.

Regarding patient services, waiting times for NFZ-funded sanatorium stays can reach up to a year, with the longest queues reported in Lower Silesia and Silesia. While certain groups such as war veterans, combatants, and honorary blood donors have priority access, other patients can reduce waiting times by utilizing cancellations. When patients relinquish their scheduled turns, those spots return to the NFZ pool and can be offered to individuals already on the waiting list, potentially allowing for treatment within days.