An aging population is forcing significant changes in the way health care is financed. As Marek Augustyn, vice president of the National Health Fund, points out, there is an increasing emphasis on prevention, community care and activities that allow seniors to stay healthy for as long as possible - outside the hospital.
NFZ facing the challenges of an aging population
Published Jan. 26, 2026 07:40
An aging population is one of the key challenges for the health care system. As Marek Augustyn, vice president of the National Health Fund, points out, demographic changes have a direct impact on the Fund's spending structure. - The directions of change are obvious, as we are observing a steady aging of the population. As a result, we have had to adjust the structure of finances so that more resources are allocated to keeping the elderly as healthy as possible, for as long as possible," stresses the National Health Fund's vice president. As he adds, it's not just about financing diagnostics or treatment, but also about developing and strengthening preventive measures. - We are committed to providing seniors with an offer not only for treatment, but also for prevention, he points out.
Prevention and home care instead of hospitalization
From the perspective of the National Health Fund, one of the most important priorities for senior policy is to reduce situations in which seniors end up in hospitals or in palliative care. - We should try to prevent seniors from ending up in the hospital or in palliative care. The key is to keep him or her in good health for as long as possible through educational activities and tools to care for the senior in his or her own home," points out Marek Augustyn. As he stresses, the development of home care is expected to avoid the need to refer patients to nursing homes or palliative care facilities. - The trend is for care to be implemented in the patient's home, with the participation of nurses and, if necessary, caregivers, he adds. A special role in this model is to be played by primary health care, which is the first and most important point of contact between the senior citizen and the health care system.
Seniors active participants in prevention
The NFZ vice president also notes the high involvement of senior citizens in the Fund's prevention programs. - We proudly admit that seniors are among the best partners in preventive activities," he stresses. Last year, the NFZ organized more than 2,900 preventive events, and one of the most numerous groups benefiting from this form of support were seniors. - We can see that we are dealing with an informed senior citizen: a person who wants to find out what the preventive offer is, and wants to use it. This is a very good signal for the whole system," concludes Marek Augustyn.
