For the last nearly a quarter of a century, we have lived in the belief that money from health insurance premiums is beyond the reach of political decisions. It was the crowning argument for maintaining a system based on health insurance premiums, which of course can hardly be called insurance, but contributory - definitely. Last week, decisions were made that deprive us - citizens paying contributions - of the last illusions.
Felieton
However, politicians reached for money from contributions
Published Nov. 21, 2022 09:44
To be clear - this process did not start at all with the disclosure of the government's plans to shift the financing of all health services to the National Health Fund, while stopping the flow of money from health insurance premiums for people who do not pay them for other reasons or finally - last but not least - reaching for the reserve fund to pump billions (?) of zlotys to the COVID-19 Prevention Fund. After all, earlier it was decided to write off the Medical Research Agency. This one, also last week, proudly announced her successes. Undoubtedly, ABM plays an important role. It is good that clinical trials are developing in Poland - not only commercial ones. But why for the money from contributions, which should be entirely allocated to benefits with proven effectiveness? Why, finally, should this money be used to finance research, the result of which - negative for patients - can be assumed with high probability? Such research should also be carried out, but with completely different funding.
The adoption of the amendment to the Act on the Professions of Physician and Dentist is, however, a breakthrough moment due to its scale. Several hundred million zlotys a year could be considered an insignificant loss, but once again it turns out that folk wisdom does not lie. That is - from the thong to the tailstock. Konik worth, in this case, even several billion zlotys, looking only in the perspective of the next year.
The bill will now go to the Senate. Marshal Tomasz Grodzki announced what could be expected - the Senate will strive to veto the regulations. And she certainly won't rush it. Will the law finally come into force? Probably yes, looking at the huge determination with which PiS pushed it - not without problems - through the Sejm. Some hope, ironically - there is so rarely an opportunity to say a warm word to this club - is given by the attitude of the Confederation MPs, who not only unanimously, but were the only club who voted against "jumping for money". These opposition voices were usually missing. This time, the Sejm also lacked - in the key vote - 100% discipline. There's still some time to fix it.
