The CSO report "Household health care in 2023 is now available. - preliminary results." What does the latest data say about health status, chronic diseases and use of medical services?
Poles' Health 2023: Increase in self-rated health, but also in health care spending
Published Oct. 31, 2024 08:07
As many as 71.8% of respondents rated their health as good or very good, an increase of 3.3 percentage points over the 2020 results, according to the CSO report . Men are the most likely to rate their health well (76.3%), and among the general group, one in four declared excellent health. As the CSO points out, comparisons with the previous 2021 edition of the survey (referring to the 2020 status) should take into account the then ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Chronic Diseases and Health Limitations
More than half (53.6%) of households reported the presence of people with chronic diseases, although this percentage dropped slightly compared to 2020. In urban areas, the problem affects 52.1% of households, and 56.7% in rural areas. The most common diseases are hypertension (20%) and joint disease (12.8%). The number of people facing physical limitations is also on the rise, with almost one in five respondents (19.9%) having difficulties with daily activities.
Increasing spending on medicines and health services
In 2023, as many as 97.2% of households allocated a portion of their budget to purchase medicines, accounting for 65.9% of all health care spending. More and more people are also choosing private services, especially in dentistry, accounting for 47.5% of outpatient care spending. In 2023, the percentage of people seeking specialist advice also increased, but many respondents opted out of treatment due to long waiting times.
Access to services and the problem of waiting times
Although the vast majority of Poles use the services of the National Health Fund, the number of people choosing private health services is growing. This is mainly influenced by long waiting times, which as many as 70.7% of households cited as the main reason for choosing private services. The survey also shows that telemedicine, although used infrequently, has its supporters - especially in larger cities, where 14.8% of respondents make appointments remotely.
Entire report available: TU
Source: CSO
