Healthcare system in Poland

Public medical treatment services in Poland are part of the NFZ institution. The Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (or National Health Fund) finances medical treatment services; it is recommended for anyone planning on staying long-term in Poland to apply. You can request a list of surgeries and treatments available with the NFZ. The following benefits include:

• Doctor visits and examination
• Diagnostic Medical Tests
• General Treatment
• Surgeries
• 72 hours hospital stay
• Refundable medicine in Poland
• Preventive treatment
• Oncological prevention
• Healthcare program for the elderly
• Healthcare for pregnant women
• Healthcare for the disabled
• Hospital Emergency services

You are automatically part of the NFZ if you are a Polish citizen, holder of the Karta Polaka, a spouse or relative to a Polish citizen, are an insured EU citizen, employed in Poland or claim an official refugee status. All school-age children within the Polish territory, of any nationality, are covered by the NFZ.

Private medical treatment

Private medical treatment services in Poland include organizations such as the LUX MED or the PZU Group. For those willing to spend a little bit more on their health may invest in private medical treatment services for:

• More specialized services
• Benefits not provided by the NFZ
• Primary care (not waiting around in lines)

It is recommended for those visiting Poland temporarily to apply for private medical insurance.

EU and non EU Nationals

Non EU Nationals must get insured by either public or private Polish medical insurance.

EU citizens who are insured in a member EU states may benefit from the NFZ medical treatment services. Members of the EFTA states (Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland and Norway) are also covered by the NFZ medical insurance.

However, it is recommended to double check your benefits with your medical insurance provider prior to entry into Poland.

EHIC in Poland

The European Health Insurance Card is one of the most important cards needed on your trip to Poland. Without it, you run the risk of not being covered by the NFZ or reduced medical costs. Poland is covered by the EHIC scheme.

Polish Prescriptions

Polish prescriptions part of the public medical treatment services are refundable. Prescriptions for medicine in Poland can be given to you by a General Practitioner, dentist or nurse and is usually valid up to 30 days. However, there are exceptions to validity dates and certain medication are non refundable. It is worth double checking with your Polish GP whether the said medication is refundable or not.

An official list of medicine in Poland may be found here.

Prices and costs of medical treatment in Poland

Costs of medical treatment services in Poland depend on the:

• Medical insurance type
• No medical insurance

Definitely having no Polish medical insurance means that procedures will be more expensive. The following lists popular procedures performed in Poland as part of the medical tourism industry.

Best private clinics and specialties in Poland

Emergency Numbers

For emergency services, call 112 or 999 within the Polish territory.