Poland's National Health Fund financing crisis hampers therapy access, adds lung cancer screening

A recent report shows that the financial strain on Poland's National Health Fund (NFZ) is worsening access to innovative medicines, especially for common chronic conditions such as cardiology and asthma. The index of therapy availability fell from 61.5 to 58.5 points, and the average waiting time for reimbursement rose from 1,176 to 1,211 days. Hospitals are increasingly reluctant to adopt new drug programs because of limited funding, and delays in diagnostic services are also reported.

From 1 July 2026 the NFZ will permanently fund low‑dose computed tomography (CT) scans for lung‑cancer screening. The move replaces a pilot program and aims to detect the disease earlier for high‑risk groups. Lung cancer causes about 22,000 new cases and a similar number of deaths each year in Poland. The new regulation will allow nationwide contracts with screening centres, set uniform equipment and staffing standards, and integrate the test into the guaranteed benefits basket.

Together, the funding challenges and the expanded screening programme illustrate the pressure on Poland's health system to balance cost constraints with the need for early diagnosis and access to advanced therapies.