In brief

• Liabilities of public medical facilities reach about PLN 38 billion, and the NFZ (National Health Fund) is delaying payments for services provided above contracted limits.
• Most of the surveyed hospitals admitted more patients in the first three quarters than a year earlier and do not plan cuts in the fourth quarter.
• The Voivodeship Hospital in Poznań suspended some scheduled procedures, including hernia surgeries and joint endoprosthesis implantation, and its debt is reported to reach PLN 19 million.
• Dziennik Łódzki describes the hospital in Łęczyca as an institution in a critical financial condition.

Debt is rising and NFZ payments are delayed

Liabilities of public healthcare facilities reach about PLN 38 billion (Szpital wstrzymuje niektóre zabiegi. NFZ odniósł się do słów dyrektora – TVP Poznań). overperformance (NFZ odnosi się do słów dyrektora Szpitala Wojewódzkiego w Poznaniu i mówi o żonglowaniu danymi. Lecznica wstrzymała planowe operacje – epoznan.pl).

Hospitals still admit patients

Despite the difficult financial situation, facilities are not restricting access to treatment. Directors also do not announce any reduction in admissions in the fourth quarter ("Milionerzy z wojskowego szpitala". MON reaguje na doniesienia – money.pl).

Local cases show the scale of the problem

At the Voivodeship Hospital in Poznań, the management suspended some scheduled procedures, including hernia surgeries and joint endoprosthesis implantation, and postponed them to next year. According to the hospital's director, the NFZ has not paid for non-limited services, and the hospital's debt is reported to reach PLN 19 million and keep growing (Więcej pacjentów, ale też milionowe zaległości. Szpitale czekają na pieniądze - Bankier.pl – bankier.pl). The Fund responded that the data presented by the director are not consistent with its records and accused him of juggling figures (Więcej pacjentów w szpitalach. Miliony złotych za nadwykonania - Biznes w INTERIA.PL – interia.pl).

Dziennik Łódzki describes a similar situation, according to which the hospital in Łęczyca is in a critical financial condition (Mimo finansowego zatoru oddziały nie zamierzają ograniczać przyjęć pacjentów – inforlex.pl).

What this may mean for patients

For now, access to beds and treatment has not visibly worsened. However, the accumulation of liabilities and payment delays may in the future force some hospitals to limit the operation of their wards, and patients may have to wait longer for some procedures (Zadłużenie szpitali sięga 38 mld zł. Placówki nie zamykają jednak drzwi przed pacjentami - GazetaPrawna.pl – gazetaprawna.pl).

Comparison of amounts

• Debt of public healthcare facilities: PLN 38 billion
• Debt of the Voivodeship Hospital in Poznań: PLN 19 million