One third of medical services in Poland are paid for from private resources, not the National Health Fund, shows a report published by internet portal money.pl. 

In 2008, Poles spent 28 billion zlotys (6 billion euros) on private heath care, while the state National Health Fund (NFZ), where Poles’ health insurance premiums are allocated, spent 48 billion zlotys (11 billion euros) on medical treatment.  

It means that last year, on average, Poles paid 737 zlotys (165 euros) extra for health care on top of their compulsory premiums.

Health insurance premiums covered 98 percent of hospital treatment but when it comes to clinics, 47 percent of medical services were covered from private resources.

The most popular among private health institutions were dentist’s. In 2008, Poles spent 6 billion zlotys (1,3 billion euros) on getting their teeth fixed. Only one third of that sum was provided by the National Health Fund.  

Last year Poles spent 700,000 to 1 billion zlotys (156,000 to 224 million euros) on payments to private surgeries and 80 to 120 million zlotys (18 to 27 million euros) on private health insurance.  (mg/pg)