Medical Assistance
Where to go to receive medical assistance – healthcare facilities
In Poland, healthcare services are provided by the following facilities provide:
- A hospital for people in need of 24/7 medical attention;
- A healthcare center, healthcare clinic, ambulatory clinic for those in need of general practitioner or specialist assistance;
- Emergency in case of accident, injury, sudden labor or sudden illness which constitute potential danger to patient’s life;
- Diagnostic lab performing diagnostic exams and analysis required by a general practitioner or a dentist;
- Orthodontist clinics provide coverage based on the referral from a dentist;
- Rehabilitation centre provides services based on the referral from a doctor;
- And other institutions
In Poland, health care facilities are either publicly or privately owned. Keep in mind that the insured is eligible to receive free of charge services only in a healthcare facility that has a signed contract with the NHF. Usually, in the healthcare facility there is a display informing patients that the institution signed a contract with the NHF. If a patient, who is insured with the NHF, receives assistance in a health care institution which does not have a contract with the NHF, she/he will be obligated to cover the medical expenses by her/himself. It is possible to receive free assistance in healthcare facilities that do not have a signed contract with NHR only in critical circumstances, such as a sudden condition posing threat to patient’s life. In such critical circumstances only a limited assistance can be provided free of charge. The NHF will repay the health care institution only the cost for services that can be proved to be essential to sustain patient well-being.
Emergency numbers
· From a stationary phone – 999
· Form a mobile phone – the area code (e.g. 22 for Warsaw) followed by 999 or the general emergency number 112
When calling 999 provide the operator with the following information:
- The exact place of the incident (address, points of orientation)
- Reason for the call
- Who is in need of assistance
Health care benefits financed from public resources
Public and private healthcare institutions provide healthcare benefits financed from the public resources for all insured in a free of charge, fee for service or partial fee for service manner. A detailed description of the medical services financed from the public resources is available at NHF 2009 Manual -
http://www.nfz.gov.pl/new/art/3824/vademecum_2009.pdf
In case of accidents caused by a patient’s intoxication, the public health care institution will charge a fee for service regardless whether the individual is insured with the NHF. The alcohol blood count is measured to establish whether a patient is intoxicated.
The healthcare institution cannot refuse medical assistance to an individual whose life is in danger whether the individual is insured or not.
Individuals covered under the obligatory or voluntary insurance receive the same quality and quantity of medical assistance.
Foreigners who are eligible to receive benefits financed from the public recourse receive the following coverage:
- Basic health care assistance
- Ambulatory specialist care
- Hospitalization
- Psychiatric assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Nurse assistance in long term illness
- Dentist
- Health resort treatment (except individuals in the asylum procedure)
- Orthopedic supplies
- Emergency assistance
- Hospice care
- Highly specialized treatments
- Health programs
- Medicine
Specialized care
In the Polish public healthcare system, specialized care services need to be referred by a general practitioner, except for services provided by the following:
-gynecologist and obstetrician
-dentist
-dermatologist
-oncologist
-optician
-psychiatrist
-TB specialist
-HIV/AIDS specialist
-addiction specialist
Hospitalization
Hospitalization is available for patients referred by a doctor who has a signed contract with the NHF. Only emergency patients are accepted without doctor’s referral.
Diagnostic exams
Patients have right to diagnostic exams based on the referral from the doctor who has a signed contract with NHF.
Medication
Medical care recipients may receive a full refund for some prescription medicines. A list of fully refundable medication, created by the Ministry of Health, is available at the local NHF offices. Other prescription medicine needs to be paid partially or in full.
Hospitalized patients receive medication free of charge.
How to choose a doctor, nurse or a midwife
Medical care recipients get to choose their primary doctor, nurse, and midwife in a document called the declaration of choice. Once the declaration is signed, medical care recipients can change their preferences twice a year free of charge. Any other change done during the same year will cost 80PLN. Patients are exempt from the payment if they see a different doctor outside of their place or residence, for example during a trip.
The declaration of choice includes following data:
- Information about the medical care recipient (name, date of birth, PESEL number, gender, address, phone number etc.)
- Information on the number of choices made in one year
- Insurance card number
- Regional NHF number
- Contact information to a chosen doctor, nurse, midwife
- Date
- Medical care recipient’s signature
- Signature of the person accepting the declaration
How to receive medical assistance at night or during holidays
After hours (6pm – 8am) and during holidays patients should seek assistance at an emergency clinic. The doctor on duty may assist the patient in the clinic, by phone or make a home visit.
Any healthcare clinic can provide information about the closest open emergency clinic. Likewise, any drugstore will have information about the closest 24/7 drugstore.
