A debate, called by leader of SLD, Grzegorz Napieralski, on the future of Poland’s health care system will take place at noon today.

Participants will include presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski, deputy prime minister Waldemar Pawlak and health minister Ewa Kopacz. Presidential candidate and acting president Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk will not be attending the ‘round table’ on health, however.

The round table comes just days after the first round of the presidential elections, where health became a central issue in the campaign. Napieralski is hoping his third placed position in the ballot can be used to force an SLD agenda on health care into the final two weeks of campaigning between Komorowski and Kaczynski, which takes place on July 4.

“We want to reflect, collectively, on how to reach a consensus on health care so that these findings , regardless of who wins the presidential elections, are implemented in the future,” Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) MP Marek Wikiński told TVP television.

“From the perspective of the government, if this round table is not to be simply a propaganda exercise but a serious conversation, then of course, the health minister must particulate at the meeting,” said PM Tusk.

“I want to suggest ways that will ensure that the Polish people will pay considerably less for medicines,” said Poland’s health minister, Ewa Kopacz. (pg)