Poland introduces significant healthcare and NFZ reforms

Poland's National Health Fund (NFZ) and the Ministry of Health are implementing several structural changes to the healthcare system.

Starting January 1, 2027, sanatorium treatments will undergo a major reform. The NFZ plans to tailor medical procedures more precisely to a patient's specific condition, age, and the specialized profile of the spa facility. This includes a new catalog of natural therapies, such as saline inhalations for respiratory issues and peat wraps for orthopedic patients. The reform also aims to change how these services are settled financially.

The central e-registration system will expand on August 1, 2026, to include specialists such as endocrinologists, nephrologists, and pulmonologists, with a goal of covering 40 different services by the end of 2027. Additionally, new validation rules for reimbursed e-prescriptions will be introduced by September 13 to prevent prescribing medication exceeding a 120-day supply.

Furthermore, the NFZ is introducing a new lung cancer screening program as a guaranteed benefit and plans to restrict certain specialized procedures, such as arthroscopies and urological operations, to specialized hospitals starting in October 2026.