Dementia and Alzheimer's care in Poland: NIK audit finds fragmented system and missing standards

In brief

• NIK audit says Poland's care for neurodegenerative patients is fragmented, with no home-care standards and an abandoned early-detection programme.
• The Ministry of Health reports about 680,000 people with a diagnosed neurodegenerative disease, including over 226,000 with Alzheimer's.
• The findings were discussed by Sejm committees on Thursday.

Growing number of patients

The Ministry of Health reports that around 680,000 people in Poland have an officially diagnosed neurodegenerative disease (Choroby neurodegeneracyjne w Polsce. Smutne wnioski z raportu NIK – abczdrowie.pl). Of these, more than 226,000 have Alzheimer's disease, most of them seniors, and over 200,000 live with Parkinson's disease. Experts describe the scale of the problem as growing quickly, placing it among the most serious challenges for the health and social care systems.

What the NIK audit found

According to the audit, several solutions meant to support patients have not been implemented, and there are no uniform standards for care provided at home (Setki tysięcy chorych w Polsce. System opieki wciąż ma luki – tvn24.pl). Auditors also pointed to delays in organising assistance and a programme for early detection of dementia that was not carried out. Patients and their families, the report says, still lack comprehensive support.

Two systems, one patient

NIK indicated that patients move between the health care and social care systems, which are not coordinated with each other (Dwa systemy, jeden pacjent. NIK wskazuje luki w opiece nad osobami otępiennymi – rynekzdrowia.pl). The result, auditors say, is gaps in long-term care for people with dementia.

Ministry response

The Ministry of Health presented its answer to the auditors' objections during a joint session of the Sejm health and social policy committees. The audit has been on the agenda of parliament since then.

Key figures

• Patients with a diagnosed neurodegenerative disease: about 680,000
• Patients with Alzheimer's disease: over 226,000
• Patients with Parkinson's disease: over 200,000