In brief

• From 2027, treatment in sanatoriums is to be tailored to the individual needs of the patient, rather than relying on standard sets of procedures .
• The NFZ is introducing changes to the way therapeutic programmes are created and to the rules for financing facilities .
• The government is considering penalties for sanatoriums that do not use the places allocated to them, which contributes to problems with the availability of places .
• Nearly 12 thousand referrals to sanatoriums were not fulfilled in the first half of the year, as reported by Portal Samorządowy .

An individual approach to sanatorium therapy from 2027

From 1 January 2027, treatment in health resorts will be based on an individual approach, taking into account the patient's state of health, age and the therapeutic specifics of a given facility (Jedziesz do sanatorium w 2027 r.? Szykują się wielkie zmiany. Na niektóre zabiegi nie masz co liczyć – fakt.pl). The NFZ wants to move away from the existing model, in which patients with different conditions received similar sets of procedures. The changes concern the way therapy is arranged and part of the rules for financing facilities. Inhalations, baths or peat treatments will not disappear from the offer. A patient will not receive a procedure if there is no indication for it, even if it was previously standard. The NFZ has issued a regulation setting out the new conditions, and sanatoriums have several months to adapt to the requirements.

Challenges in using places in sanatoriums

Facilities are experiencing problems with using the available places. The government is considering stricter rules for sanatoriums that do not use the places allocated to them, which contributes to growing queues (Miejsca przepadają, a kolejki rosną. Rząd rozważa kary w sanatoriach – portalsamorzadowy.pl). According to data from Portal Samorządowy, nearly 12 thousand referrals to sanatoriums were not fulfilled in the first half of the year. People planning a stay in a sanatorium in 2027 should discuss their expectations and diagnosis with their doctor before departure, because the therapeutic programme will depend on medical indications.

Read also

• Skierowania do sanatoriów wyłącznie elektronicznie od 1 lipca 2023 roku. Co zmienia się dla pacjentów Lubelskiego NFZ?
• Zmiany w finansowaniu terapii: resort zdrowia chce ułatwić dostęp do leczenia
• Projekt rozporządzenia: nowe badania diagnostyczne na NFZ od 1 stycznia 2027 r.