Changes in Medical Funds

One of the main points of the amendment is the addition of a new category of services that the Medical Fund will be able to finance: genetic research in the population of patients under 18 years of age with rare and oncological diseases. The amendment also raises the limits of expenses, including expenses on drugs, and makes it possible to finance vaccinations included in the PSO as recommended vaccinations (in terms of HPV vaccinations).

The first reading of the presidential draft of amendments to the Medical Fund Act took place last week - two days in the Sejm were enough to quickly adopt the draft, which, by the way, did not arouse much controversy, because both PiS and the opposition agreed that changes in the act are necessary so that the Fund could more easily spend money on diagnosis and treatment of patients. The act passed two years ago, as it turned out, did not provide sufficient tools for this.

The lack of controversy over the necessity to amend the law did not mean that its adoption itself took place in an atmosphere of political peace. - The fund was created for election purposes, when the ratings of the presidential candidate fell after he allocated two billion zlotys to public television. This is evidenced by e-mail leaks from the prime minister's office - reminded Rajmund Miller (KO). Opposition MPs had the biggest grudge against PiS about freezing FM money in bank accounts. - Not implemented, among others mobilizing funds from three out of four subfunds for purposes related to the development of prevention. These funds were to go to the development of screening programs implemented by local governments. Not a single zloty was spent from the funds of the healthcare entities modernization subfund. The government took several months to pass the resolution of the Council of Ministers on how to spend these funds. Not a single zloty was spent from the subfunds of the strategic structure. Only PR activities were carried out - enumerated Miller.

MEPs asked from the parliamentary tribunal about HPV vaccinations, which the Ministry of Health had promised in 2019, entered them into the National Oncological Strategy, but they are still in the sphere of dreams when it comes to free access. Moreover, although the amendment makes it possible to finance these vaccinations, there are still no details and it is not known what it will look like and when the program will start.

In the opinion of the opposition, it is also a mistake to cut off smaller hospitals (and "smaller" ones also mean large local government hospitals) from the possibility of obtaining funds for investments. - In the present shape, the criteria are too demanding for many local governments and therefore impossible to meet. This means that small facilities will be deprived of the possibility of development, thus the distance in terms of equipment or material base to larger hospitals, which are usually located in larger urban centers, will increase, and the access of citizens to appropriate medical care will deteriorate - Marek Rutka (Left) spoke during the second reading.

- The Medical Fund is a beautiful idea, which was presented by Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the election campaign, picked up by the then President Andrzej Duda and completely sparred by the Ministry of Health - assessed Dariusz Klimczak (KP), accusing the Ministry of Health that he was not prepared to allocate money.

Jadwiga Emilewicz (PiS), the rapporteur for the project, answering the questions and doubts of opposition deputies, accused them of populism and a desire to build political capital on the misfortune of disease. - Funds for health care are the second largest cost in the state budget and it will never be sufficient, not only in Poland - said the former minister and close associate of Mateusz Morawiecki. In her opinion, in Poland, "everyone who is sick receives adequate and appropriate care as far as possible."