Polish govt. plans no increase in health insurance contribution, says PM
Poland's government does not plan to raise the health insurance contribution; there will be an analysis of healthcare spending, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a briefing in Grojec.
"Every health minister practically begins their work with the obvious question of where more money for health will come from. Health costs are rising, and we are all aware of that. We will definitely not raise the health insurance contribution," Tusk said, responding to a question related to Thursday's statement by the health minister on TVP Info.
Jolanta Sobieranska-Grenda said that money from contributions does not meet the healthcare needs, and if the contribution is not increased, a debate is needed on where to find funds to cover the deficit.
"Please take the minister's statement as a sharp signal that we must organize financial support for healthcare beyond what the ministry and Polish national health fund, NFZ currently have at their disposal," Prime Minister Tusk added.
He stressed that every year the government allocates tens of billions of zlotys more for health, but the funding is still insufficient.
Tusk announced an analysis of spending and its efficiency, including identifying where money is wasted and does not directly benefit patients' health.
"We do not plan to raise the health insurance contribution," he reiterated.
jz/ nl/ ao/