Poland proposes new rules to cut doctor queues and debates fees for missed appointments

Poland’s Ministry of Health plans to shorten waiting lists for specialist appointments by adjusting payments to clinics that accept a higher proportion of new patients. Under the proposal, providers with an unfavourable ratio of new to existing patients would receive lower reimbursements from the National Health Fund (NFZ), potentially reducing queue lengths on paper but risking reduced access for current patients.

NFZ vice‑president Jakub Szulc says introducing fees for patients who do not attend scheduled visits would be unfair in the current environment because many patients cannot easily contact clinics to cancel. He argues that any such system must be paired with improved communication, such as the central patient registration system being rolled out gradually. Szulc cited examples from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, noting that similar co‑payment schemes have faced political and practical challenges.

Both articles highlight the tension between attempts to make specialist care more accessible for new patients and the practical difficulties of ensuring fair responsibility on both sides of the appointment process.