Up to half of the sanatoriums will go bankrupt, spa industry representatives fear. They want a dialogue on the announced reform

At the beginning of next year, a reform of spa treatment is to come into effect. According to the signatories of the open letter, the changes are expected by the industry, which several years ago prepared a report with a proposal for the evolution of spa treatment in Poland. However, the shape of the currently planned reform deviates from the proposals developed by the community. The spa industry is warning that the current changes could have disastrous consequences and, within a few years, lead to the liquidation of sanatorium treatment in Poland.

- The most important goal of the changes should be to improve the quality and availability of medical services. The reform being pushed through does not achieve this goal or only creates the appearance of it. Our years of experience and analysis of the proposed changes have not been taken into account. The lack of adjustments will result in serious social, health and financial consequences. Listening to populist and marketing slogans, we fear that the real goal of the reform is not the welfare of patients, but an attractive-sounding pre-election message, unfortunately misleading as far as the benefits for patients are concerned," assess the signatories of the open letter.

According to the signatories of the letter, patients, especially seniors, employees of the spa industry, treatment facilities, as well as municipalities where sanatoriums or spa hospitals are located, will suffer.

According to the announcement, treatment in spa hospitals, which were fully free for patients, is to be completely eliminated. In the case of sanatoriums, subsidies for non-medical services, i.e. lodging and food, are currently regulated from above, and are the same in all spas. After the reform, they will be freed up, marketized and passed entirely to the patient. As a result, the most popular mountain and seaside resorts will increase fees.

- Only the richest will not be able to be treated there by those who should because of the treatment profile and disease unit. The purpose of spas is to cure, and different locations of spas have their medical justification due to the possession of diverse natural resources. It is feared that patients, having a misunderstood freedom of choice, will be guided more by the geographic attractiveness of spas and choose coastal or mountain spas, which will not necessarily meet their health needs. The spa industry is an integral part of the health care system, and the direction of the proposed changes in the reform seeks to transform spa treatment into medical tourism with public money. The healing aspect will recede into the background, its level will deteriorate," say the signatories of the open letter.

As a result, according to industry representatives, the availability of treatment will decrease, as the most frequently selected facilities will not be able to increase the number of places and receive a large number of patients. Waiting times at the most recognized centers will increase. Smaller spas, but those with unique natural therapeutic resources and a pool of expert medical staff, will have trouble attracting patients and will not be able to break through and secure year-round occupancy in this situation.

The announced changes, according to the association, also mean an increase in the financial burden for most spa operators. The industry is threatened by a decrease in revenue while expenses increase. Once administrative tasks and referral handling are transferred from the National Health Fund to treatment facilities, new costs will be created. The reform does not assume additional funding for these responsibilities. The uneven playing field could lead to a drastic drop in revenue and the collapse of up to 50 percent of spas.

The spa industry community is calling for the inclusion of all stakeholders in the work on the final - legislative shape of the reform.

Elaborated. based on: press release