To myself or from myself. Current comment

In a market economy, where prices are free, and entities operate "for profit" and compete with each other, each entity wants to have as many customers as possible, because the more customers, the greater the profit, development opportunities, etc. Hence their approach to the customer can be define as "towards themselves": they do their best to attract the client to themselves.
In a "socialist" economy (such as existed, for example, in the People's Republic of Poland), prices are set administratively, and entities do not act "for profit" but "for the mission", receiving funds from the government depending on whether the government recognizes their mission as more important - then there are more of these resources, or less important - then there are fewer resources. Such entities behave on the basis of "away from each other" towards the client: they do everything to keep clients away from each other, so that they do not disturb and force them to work.
The effects are obvious. In a market economy, the power to "suck" customers in is great. It is not only a huge abundance of goods, but also intrusive advertising, "promotion" and other "tricks", sometimes on the verge of a simple fraud. This often results in unnecessary purchases and becomes - for many - downright unbearable. In return, however, if there is a real need, a specific product or service can be obtained very easily. In a "socialist" economy, it is the other way around: no one bothers you with advertising, does not impose himself or persuades you to use his services, but when you need a product or service, the torment that will befall you will be much greater than the inconvenience associated with "suction" the strength of the market. It is exactly the same in health care. With the proviso that if these services are not paid out of the patient's pocket, then there is an additional factor: the possibility of abuse of benefits - at the expense of the payer, i.e. - de facto - other people, which also means "taking" money from them for their treatment, sometimes even for benefits that save life or health.
With all this in mind, we should consider which public health system to choose. If we choose the market system, we do not have to worry about the fact that there will be a shortage of services, there will be queues for them, or that the patient will not be properly "cared for". Our concern, however, will be: what to do to make the (public) payer have the means to pay for it all, how to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of these funds and how to reduce the abuse of services by patients and healthcare providers. When we choose the second system - we will have to make continuous efforts to ensure an adequate supply of services, that they are of adequate quality, comprehensive and complete, so that the patient is properly cared for and does not "wander" from doctor to doctor looking for help.
As it is not difficult to notice, in Poland, especially in recent years, we are dealing with the latter type of activities, and although more and more new initiatives are being taken, more and more new "pilots", programs and "projects" are being implemented, and experts come up with new solutions. , the situation - for the patient - remains as hopeless as before.
Maybe it's time to introduce the first of these models? Focus on providing the right amount of funds, introduce methods of rationalizing the use of services and leave the rest to the medical entities, "acting for profit" and competing with each other for the patient and for the money that goes with him?
Krzysztof Bukiel February 11, 2022 (World Day of the Sick, established by Pope John Paul II).