In brief

• Public hospitals in Poland owe 38 bn zł, and almost 6 bn zł of that is overdue.
• NFZ is delayed in paying for services above contracted limits.
• Most hospitals surveyed by DGP admitted more patients in the first three quarters and plan no fourth-quarter cuts.
• The Poznań provincial hospital halted some planned procedures, and its director Dawid Murawa is reported to be leaving.

Debts keep growing

Public healthcare facilities owe a total of 38 bn zł, according to the latest update of the Health Care Financing Monitor by the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs (FPP). The National Health Fund (NFZ) is also far behind in settling payments for services delivered above contracted limits (Zadłużenie szpitali sięga 38 mld zł. Placówki nie zamykają jednak drzwi przed pacjentami - GazetaPrawna.pl – gazetaprawna.pl).

Wards still open

Despite the squeeze, most hospitals have not turned patients away. A survey by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna found that most of the facilities it asked admitted more patients in the first three quarters of the year than in the same period last year. They also do not plan to cut services in the fourth quarter, even though NFZ payments for over-limit services are delayed (Więcej pacjentów, ale też milionowe zaległości. Szpitale czekają na pieniądze - Bankier.pl – bankier.pl) (Mimo finansowego zatoru oddziały nie zamierzają ograniczać przyjęć pacjentów – inforlex.pl).

A local case

The problem is visible in Poznań. The Szpital Wojewódzki there has halted some planned limited procedures, including hernia and gallbladder operations, because it says NFZ has not paid about 19 mln zł for unlimited services (Szpital wstrzymuje niektóre zabiegi. NFZ odniósł się do słów dyrektora – TVP Poznań) (NFZ odnosi się do słów dyrektora Szpitala Wojewódzkiego w Poznaniu i mówi o żonglowaniu danymi. Lecznica wstrzymała planowe operacje – epoznan.pl). Its director, Prof. Dawid Murawa, warned that the hospital would have to take out loans if the money does not arrive, and said urgent procedures continue under emergency care. NFZ responded that the director was manipulating the figures.

Read also

• Lublin Hospital Faces Debt Crisis as Ambulance Staff Go Unpaid and Board Plans Company Conversion