Sharp cuts in access to research. The National Health Fund is cleverly looking for savings
The health care system will lack at least PLN 23 billion in 2026. It is already known that there will be no freezing of medics’ wages – there will be clever savings on tests.
Anyone who has not been tested so far will not be tested any time soon – unless privately. And it costs: private colonoscopy costs PLN 700 – 1,500, gastroscopy: PLN 350 – 850, magnetic resonance imaging: PLN 500 – 1,200 for one body area, and computed tomography costs PLN 300 – 1,000.
On March 11, 2026, the National Health Fund published a draft regulation intended to provide PLN 800 million in savings in Cost-Intensive Outpatient Diagnostic Services (ASDK). This is precisely the research mentioned above.
Changes in access to tests on the National Health Fund
According to the National Health Fund’s project, in theory these benefits would remain unlimited, but after exhausting the funds under the signed contract, the National Health Fund wants to pay contractors only 40% for the excess work. their values. This rule is to apply to any benefit exceeding the value of the contract with the National Health Fund.
The second proposed change is to move the settlement of overperformance to the end of the year. Currently, the National Health Fund pays the facilities quarterly. In practice, this means that the queues for these tests will be longer.
The National Health Fund emphasizes that the restrictions will not apply to services for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age, patients in the colorectal cancer prevention program and patients with a Diagnostics and Oncological Treatment (DiLO) card. Just because he simply can’t legally do it.
Endocrinologist and cataracts also with limitations
40 percent value The National Health Fund also wants to pay for the excess provision of Outpatient Specialist Care (AOS), i.e. visits to specialists that require a referral from a Primary Health Care physician. For example, for visits to the endocrinologist.
– We will inform you about the details regarding AOS when the draft regulation on this matter is submitted for public consultation – emphasizes the spokesman of the National Health Fund, Paweł Florek. It turns out that the National Health Fund is also preparing a similar regulation regarding cataracts. Reducing financing in practice means that fewer patients will be able to benefit from this procedure, which costs the National Health Fund about PLN 3,000. zloty. Privately, such a procedure costs from PLN 2,700 to even PLN 7,000-9,000 for one eye, depending on the selected lens and the reputation of the clinic.
