Will there run out of money for treatment? Difficult financial situation of the National Health Fund

To see how gigantic the problems of the National Health Fund are, just look at one group of rapidly growing expenses. In 2016, Law and Justice introduced a program of free drugs for seniors. PLN 110 million was spent on it, a year later five times more, and a year ago 30 times more than at the beginning. It is also not known how much is missing in the National Health Fund. Maybe a few or maybe tens of billion zlotys.

The drip in one of the Polish hospitals will end any moment. When it comes to financing health care – it wasn't so bad for a long time.

– if the Minister of Finance does not transfer to the second half of the year to NFZ 15 or 18 billion zlotys, you can really put out the light at the National Health Fund – comments Wojciech Wiśniewski, an expert for health care, member of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs.

Why is the money missing?

The money will be missing, among others, because this year's NFZ funds had to be covered with a budget hole last year. Exactly 6 billion of the National Health Fund had to pour hospitals for last year's surplus. That's why this year there will be more money.

– The budget hole in the National Health Fund has various estimates, but none are optimistic, because they start at level a few and end at the level of tens of billions of zlotys – says Anna Gołębicka, an economist from the center of Adam Smith.

Patients are already suffering from it, because queues for examinations are extended to doctors and drug programs – for example in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, which we recently informed. Hospitals that, despite this, realize drug programs, without getting money for it, are more and more indebted.

– I went to the national fund to ask what we can do for these patients and I just heard that the reason is the lack of money in the system – says prof. Jarosław Sławek, head of the neurological and impact department of Saint Wojciech “Copernicus” in Gdańsk.

Subsequent programs and no additional funds

It is not surprising that there is a lack of money at the National Health Fund, since subsequent governments spend it with a light hand, fulfilling populist election promises. For example, ten years ago Law and Justice Free drugs for seniors were promised. And the promise was made.

As a result, the National Health Fund spent half a billion on these drugs in 2017, and over three billion zlotys in last year. All entitled drugs get free medicines – including those who can afford to buy them. This year it will be even more, because the current government has agreed that the free prescriptions were also written by doctors in private offices.

– It's a bit like spending money from our portfolio, when we go shopping somewhere. Here we will spend four zlotys, here seven, here 12 and then it turns out that we have spent everything we had in this portfolio – says Anna Gołębicka.

In addition, this year in July, minimum salaries in health care by another 14 percent will increase once again. The National Health Fund will pay for everything without additional funds. That's how it is every year. Two years ago, the PiS government from the state budget to the National Health Fund transferred funding for emergency medical services – without giving the fund additional funds.

– On the website of the Government Legislation Center you can see the letters of the Minister of Finance that there was no money for these reforms, but it was implemented, so the National Health Fund is guilty to God – notes Wojciech Wiśniewski.

Money in the budget of the National Health Fund comes primarily from health contributions paid by the insured.