Healthcare in Poland
Expats will find both public and private healthcare in Poland. Most Polish citizens use a combination of both, and expats will want to 
make sure they have some degree of private insurance, as costs associated with these services can become expensive if paying out-of-pocket.
Furthermore, Poland contributes one of the lowest percentages of their GDP to maintaining the public health system; an indication of the future state of things to come, perhaps.
Facilities and treatment are generally better in the larger cities, and emergency services may suffer in the more rural areas. Furthermore, Poland has a smaller number of doctors than many countries with a similar population size, and these individuals are usually located in the metropolises.
The Ministry of Health regulates national healthcare policy, and oversees the state-financed system, the National Health Fund (NFZ), that supports it.
State care is compulsory for all Polish nationals and all official residents; contributions are usually deducted directly from salaries, and self-employed individuals are required to make a personal payment to the NFZ. The amount usually totals to 8.5% of a gross salary.
Expats will need to obtain a personal identification number (PESEL) before officially applying for public health insurance. Once the application is approved, individuals and their dependants are given an official medical insurance card and are entitled to free health services in Poland.
EU-nationals who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an E-111 form are also applicable to receive free public healthcare. This includes access to primary care, specialist out-patient care, hospital treatment, dental treatment and ambulance transport.
The standard of public care in Poland is adequate, though many of the hospitals may be of a slightly lower standard than those in countries where creature comforts are expected. Still, the best institutions are publicly owned, and for complicated surgeries, especially, these are the logical choice - there are often no private options for cancer cases, for example.
One downfall of the NFZ is the fact that it issues quotas for doctors on the number of free state procedures they can perform. For this reason, those needing either consultation or minor treatment may find themselves on a waiting list for many months before receiving service.
Furthermore, if using the state-system and requesting the services of a specialist, it is necessary to first get a referral from a general practitioner (GP); thus the process could take a VERY long time.
The state does not sponsor most prescription drugs, however; some medicines associated with long-term illnesses (like asthma, depression, heart disease, diabetes, etc.) are funded in part.
Private healthcare in Poland is often used to supplement the public sector. Expats will find that many nationals choose this option to avoid
the long waits and the crippling bureaucracy of the state system.
In fact, many of the same doctors that work for the NFZ have private practices on the side; they can bypass the limits of the quota system this way, and treat patients as they see fit.
Private treatment in small doses is affordable, but continuous treatment will certainly pull at your purse strings; thus, it's recommended that expats take out private health insurance.
Emergency services in Poland are often prone to time delays, especially in areas outside of the major urban centres. The time in between calling for help and receiving treatment is much longer than that found in other Western countries.
If not close to a hospital with an emergency room, a GP is required by law to treat you in your home.
Emergency numbers: 112 or 999
make sure they have some degree of private insurance, as costs associated with these services can become expensive if paying out-of-pocket.Furthermore, Poland contributes one of the lowest percentages of their GDP to maintaining the public health system; an indication of the future state of things to come, perhaps.
Facilities and treatment are generally better in the larger cities, and emergency services may suffer in the more rural areas. Furthermore, Poland has a smaller number of doctors than many countries with a similar population size, and these individuals are usually located in the metropolises.
Public healthcare in Poland
The Ministry of Health regulates national healthcare policy, and oversees the state-financed system, the National Health Fund (NFZ), that supports it.
State care is compulsory for all Polish nationals and all official residents; contributions are usually deducted directly from salaries, and self-employed individuals are required to make a personal payment to the NFZ. The amount usually totals to 8.5% of a gross salary.
Expats will need to obtain a personal identification number (PESEL) before officially applying for public health insurance. Once the application is approved, individuals and their dependants are given an official medical insurance card and are entitled to free health services in Poland.
EU-nationals who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an E-111 form are also applicable to receive free public healthcare. This includes access to primary care, specialist out-patient care, hospital treatment, dental treatment and ambulance transport.
The standard of public care in Poland is adequate, though many of the hospitals may be of a slightly lower standard than those in countries where creature comforts are expected. Still, the best institutions are publicly owned, and for complicated surgeries, especially, these are the logical choice - there are often no private options for cancer cases, for example.
One downfall of the NFZ is the fact that it issues quotas for doctors on the number of free state procedures they can perform. For this reason, those needing either consultation or minor treatment may find themselves on a waiting list for many months before receiving service.
Furthermore, if using the state-system and requesting the services of a specialist, it is necessary to first get a referral from a general practitioner (GP); thus the process could take a VERY long time.
The state does not sponsor most prescription drugs, however; some medicines associated with long-term illnesses (like asthma, depression, heart disease, diabetes, etc.) are funded in part.
Private healthcare in Poland
Private healthcare in Poland is often used to supplement the public sector. Expats will find that many nationals choose this option to avoid
the long waits and the crippling bureaucracy of the state system.In fact, many of the same doctors that work for the NFZ have private practices on the side; they can bypass the limits of the quota system this way, and treat patients as they see fit.
Private treatment in small doses is affordable, but continuous treatment will certainly pull at your purse strings; thus, it's recommended that expats take out private health insurance.
Emergency services in Poland
Emergency services in Poland are often prone to time delays, especially in areas outside of the major urban centres. The time in between calling for help and receiving treatment is much longer than that found in other Western countries.
If not close to a hospital with an emergency room, a GP is required by law to treat you in your home.
Emergency numbers: 112 or 999
