– I still think that a gas station is not a place where you should buy alcohol – said Izabela Leszczyna, Minister of Health, in the “Bez kitu” program. Despite previous declarations, the government has not introduced restrictions on the sale of alcohol at gas stations. The Minister of Health stated that “it is difficult to push through a bill that will not receive the votes of the ruling coalition.” Leszczyna also talked about the law that will introduce, among others: age verification when purchasing alcohol online and lengthening queues to doctors.
Last year Minister of Health announced the introduction of restrictions on the sale of alcohol, among others. at gas stations. No regulations on this matter have entered into force yet.
– I still think that a gas station is definitely not a place where you should buy alcohol and the Minister of Health does not change his mind – she said in the “Bez kitu” program Izabela Leszczyna. As she noted, “the government consists not only of the Minister of Health”, but also of other ministers who “believe that this would introduce some inequality” between economic entities. – It is difficult to push through a bill that you know will not gain the support and votes of the ruling coalition – she added.
Price promotions for alcohol and online sales
The Minister of Health said that “the act that introduces certain restrictions (on the sale of alcohol – ed.) will come into force.” Currently, the act is to be submitted for public consultations. – In this act, we are talking primarily about the fact that the seller will be obliged to check the ID card if there is any suspicion that the person is under 18 years of age – Leszczyna specified. She emphasized that “this obligation will be checked by various services.” She cited the Trade Inspection as an example.
Additionally, the act will also introduce new regulations on the sale of alcohol online. – We will also change these regulations. To buy alcohol online, you will have to prove that you are of legal age, said the minister. Age verification is to be similar to “logging in to a bank or mObywatela”.
Izabela Leszczyna emphasized that the government also addressed the issue of price promotions for alcohol. – We enter the store, there are two bottles of alcohol, there is a sign saying that if you buy two, you will pay cheaper. In my opinion, this is advertising that is prohibited, said the boss Ministry of Health. She added that she wanted to “clarify this provision that such promotion is prohibited advertising.”
Queues for specialist doctors. Leszczyna: I am not satisfied with the current state
The Minister of Health also talked about queues to specialist doctors. – It is true that there are specialties for which we have to wait longer, but there are also those for which the queues have become shorter – said Leszczyna. However, she emphasized that she was “not satisfied with the current state.”
She recalled that her “predecessors abolished the limits on outpatient specialist care, i.e. for all specialists.” – Meanwhile, the queues (…) got longer. What does it mean? This means that we have some pathological phenomenon, she said.
Leszczyna explained that according to analyzes financed by National Health Fund In clinics, patients visit specialists too often. – It is very often the case that the so-called first-time patients, i.e. those who come (…) for the first time for two years, constitute, for example, 10 percent – she said.
She also announced the introduction of “a certain principle of degression” from the second quarter of 2025. It is to calculate the median of the so-called patients. first-time visits throughout Poland and comparing it with statistics in individual clinics. – All those who reach this median are, as it were, safe. For those below us, we say: you have three months to increase the number of first-time patients. If you do not increase (…), you will receive less for each patient visit – she explained.
According to the ministry, this solution is intended to shorten queues to doctors, because clinics will more often refer patients after diagnosis to primary care doctors or directly to hospitals. – A family doctor is a doctor who can take holistic care of the patient – she said.
Main photo source: TVN24