The Health Ministry is constantly analyzing the possibility of extending the free medication program for seniors to the younger population. - However, we are talking about costs running into billions of zlotys," Health Minister Adam Niedzielski reminded in Katowice.
MZ: analyses are underway to expand drug program for seniors
Published April 25, 2023 19:00
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The question of lowering the age limit for eligibility for the "S" list was raised during a talk at the European Economic Congress, which began on Monday. Adam Niedzielski informed once again that the health ministry is studying such a possibility all the time. - A decision has not yet been made. One has to realize that lowering the bar by a five-year age bracket is money of the order of several billion zlotys," Adam Niedzielski stressed, repeating what he had said earlier as part of the Health Challenges Congress and also what Maciej Miłkowski, who is responsible for drug policy, conveyed on behalf of the Health Minister in his answers to parliamentary interpellations on the matter.
- We are simulating various scenarios, including lowering the age limit in this program. For the time being, the decision has not yet been made," Adam Niedzielski noted, adding that if financial space becomes available, the expansion of the free medication program for seniors will be prioritized.
At the moment, people over 75 years of age can benefit from the program. The list of free preparations for seniors is being expanded year by year to include more active substances. Under the program, between 2016-2022 and 2023, the health ministry spent nearly PLN 4.5 billion on 75 plus drugs. According to the Ministry's calculations, more than 3.8 million recipients have benefited from the program since its inception, and the number of drug packages dispensed has reached 403 million.
