Polish healthcare less accessible: NIK

Despite the fact that the former Civic Platform (PO) government increasing the funding for healthcare, Poles had to wait longer for every medical service which was studied.

The government’s so-called “waiting list legislative package”, was introduced in 2015, and was aimed to reduce waiting time in Polish hospitals and clinics.

However, experts say it masks the problem, rather than solves it.

Konstanty Radziwiłł, Poland’s health minister under the current Law and Justice (PiS) government, said he is aware of the situation, and that the direct causes of the long waiting periods are insufficient funds and a shortage of specialists.

Radziwiłł stressed that his resort aims to raise expenditures in the medical sector by up to six percent of GDP (from the current 4.4 percent) and increase the number of medical students. (tf/rg)