Despite concern that it could increase the cost of medical services in Poland, President Lech Kaczynski has signed the government’s medical guarantees bill.

President Kaczynski signed the bill, Monday, which creates new powers for government to define which services should be financed by the state and which should be paid for by patients.

The new law gives the health minister the right to determine, by way of decree, which medical services would be financed  or co-financed by the state.

Lech Kaczynski stressed, however, that he found many of the provisions in the new bill concerning, including the new definition of guaranteed services which, according to some health experts, can be interpreted in various ways.

Poland’s president said that Health Minister Ewa Kopacz assured him that if the law will not result in an increased cost for medical services.

It was in doubt whether or not President Kaczynski would again use his powers of veto, just days after he sunk the government’s media bill, which would have radically changed the way public media is financed in Poland. (di/pg)