MZ reassures after reports from hospitals. "Oncology is not at risk."

- We do not confirm reports that oncology treatments are being postponed or oncology patients are being "sent away." Oncology services are, as a rule, non-limited benefits," the Health Ministry said, referring to the growing signals in recent days about the deteriorating financial situation of hospitals and possible restrictions on the provision of services. In a published communiqué, the ministry argues that the National Health Fund is "fulfilling its obligations to healthcare providers on an ongoing basis."

As emphasized, this year's Fund budget has already exceeded 200 billion zlotys, and no key benefits are expected to be at risk.

Oncology without limits, though there is concern

The ministry denies reports of postponing oncology treatments or referring patients. - Oncology services are, as a rule, unlimited, the ministry reminds, adding that it has not received confirmed information about restrictions in this area.

At the same time, he admits that there may be rescheduling for elective procedures, which has also happened in previous years. It is the medical facilities that decide on schedule changes, guided by patient safety and continuity of treatment.

In recent days, however, it was from the hospitals - especially in the large provinces - that signals were coming in about the increasingly difficult financial situation.

Mazovia and Silesia in the most difficult situation, in other regions unchanged

The health ministry admits that the Mazowieckie and Silesian provinces were monitored particularly closely. According to the communiqué, the priority there has become securing the delivery of services in November and December 2025. With the additional funds, contracts will not be reduced. The ministry stresses that there was no risk of reduced funding in other regions.

Oversubscription - some already paid, rest pending

The process of settling overcontracts is also underway. For the first quarter of 2025, the National Health Service has already paid the entire amount owed, while most of the provincial departments are currently working on the settlement of the overdrafts for the second quarter. This includes drug programs, non-limited services and chemotherapy, among others.

Additional billions from the state budget and bond issues

To stabilize the situation, the National Health Service received PLN 3.5 billion in additional subsidies from the state budget at the end of October. The money is already going to provincial branches and is included in annexes that increase the value of contracts of facilities. The Fund is also expected to receive about PLN 1 billion from a bond issue in the near future. Talks are also underway about another budget boost later this year.

Why is the system under pressure?

The Ministry explains that health premium revenues are not sufficient to cover all the NFZ's liabilities. For this reason, it is crucial to maintain a high budget subsidy, which has already exceeded PLN 31 billion in 2025.

The ministry points to several factors weighing on the budget, including:

• The growing number of unlimited benefits,
• Taking over new tasks from the state budget (including emergency medical services, highly specialized services, 65+ and 18- drug programs),
• annual increases in minimum wages in health care, which now consume as much as ¼ of the NHF budget.

Reforms underway, mood on the ground still tense

The Ministry recalls that it is carrying out parallel activities to improve the efficiency of the system, including implementation of the law reforming hospitality, work on valuations of services, and talks on changes to the law on minimum wages in health care.

For now, however, the MZ's announcement is primarily intended to calm the mood - especially in the context of signals coming from medical facilities, for which the end of the year is traditionally the period of greatest financial stress.

Source: MZ