The news in Polish
System zdrowia w Polsce ma problemy finansowe. Szpitale czekają na pieniądze od NFZ. Zadłużenie wynosi około 13 miliardów PLN. Szpitale musiały ograniczyć procedury medyczne i przyjęcia pacjentów. Rząd obiecuje szybsze wypłaty, ale sytuacja jest poważna. Bardzo wydłużyły się też kolejki na niektóre badania i konsultacje.
Translation
The healthcare system in Poland is facing financial difficulties. Hospitals are waiting for funds from the National Health Fund (NFZ). The debt stands at approximately 13 billion PLN. Hospitals have had to limit medical procedures and patient admissions. The government promises faster payouts, but the situation is serious. Waiting times for certain tests and consultations have become significantly longer.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: What is the total debt of Polish hospitals mentioned in the summary?
The debt is about 13 billion PLN.
Question 2: What promise has the government made regarding hospital payments?
The government promises faster payments.
Exercise: Vocabulary
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▌08/10/2024
Poland's healthcare system is facing significant financial pressure as hospitals struggle with unpaid medical bills and delayed reimbursements from the National Health Fund (NFZ). The issue, which has affected institutions across the country, has raised concerns about the ability of hospitals to continue providing essential care.
According to recent reports, hospitals are owed between 3 to 3.5 billion PLN for non-limited services such as childbirth, heart attack treatment, and rehabilitation, where no strict cap on quantity exists under NFZ contracts. These payments are typically reconciled quarterly, but delays have exacerbated financial strains, impacting hospitals in 11 out of 16 Polish provinces.
Moreover, hospitals are awaiting approximately 10 billion PLN for exceeding contractual limits on services like joint replacement surgeries and psychiatric consultations. These services have strict caps, and exceeding them often leaves hospitals waiting for payments.
The financial woes are part of a broader budgetary shortfall, with the NFZ concluding 2023 with a deficit of 16.4 billion PLN. Hospital representatives express concerns that continued payment delays might force further service reductions. Notably, hospitals in regions such as Lubaczów and Rzeszów have already cut back on scheduled medical procedures and patient admissions.
Polish Hospitals Strain Under NFZ's Financial Deficit (Illustration)
Izabela Leszczyna, the Minister of Health, has attributed the financial shortfall to the actions of the previous administration. She assured that hospitals should receive payments for non-limited services by mid-October, noting that contract amendments were promptly sent out to hospitals except those in Silesia. Once returned along with invoices, NFZ is expected to process payments within seven days.
Such financial challenges have led to reduced medical services. For instance, hospitals in Konin and Szamotuły have already decreased the number of patients accepted into treatment programmes, while the waiting time for psychiatric care has extended significantly, with some services postponed until 2025.
The situation has compelled hospitals to consider further action. For example, public healthcare facilities in Rawicz and Strzelin have also reported a shortfall in funding affecting their ability to maintain staff and infrastructure.
Despite these constraints, some hospitals, like the one in Piotrków, have chosen to continue service delivery despite accruing excess costs. However, this is not a sustainable long-term solution, as highlighted by the combined national hospital administrators.
NFZ has noted its commitment to meeting its contractual obligations but emphasized that any services exceeding limits might not be reimbursed in full. As the healthcare providers await solutions, the strain on Poland's healthcare system continues to demand urgent attention.
Info: "Polish Learner News" is a service from "Let's Learn Polish," a language school dedicated to teaching Polish. We offer various types of online Polish courses, providing comprehensive resources on how to learn Polish effectively.
