Healthcare in Poland

You will find both public and private healthcare options in Poland. Approximately two-fifths of Polish residents use a combination of both systems, while another two-fifths rely solely on public healthcare. You will want to ensure you have some degree of private insurance, as costs associated with these services can become expensive if paid out of pocket.

Facilities and treatment are generally better in the larger cities like Warsaw, Kraków and Wrocław, and emergency services are less reliable in the rural areas. Poland has fewer medical professionals per capita than in many European countries. Most of these healthcare professionals are concentrated in major urban centres, with many working at multiple facilities to meet demand.

Public healthcare in Poland

Public healthcare in Poland is regulated by the Ministry of Health, which oversees the state-financed National Health Fund (NFZ) system that supports it. State care is compulsory for all Polish nationals and all official residents. Contributions are usually deducted directly from salaries, with self-employed individuals required to make personal payments to the NFZ.

The standard of public healthcare in Poland is adequate, although many hospitals may be of a lower standard than those in Western Europe. Poland ranked 32nd out of 35 countries in the European Health Consumer Index, lagging behind many of its neighbours. Despite this, there are excellent public facilities that cover more treatment plans than might be available at private medical centres. For example, there are often no private options for cancer cases in Poland.

You will need to obtain a personal identification number (PESEL) before officially applying for public health insurance. To get your PESEL, you’ll need to register your residence at the district office corresponding to where you live. This can be done in person or through a proxy, and the process typically takes several days to a few weeks. Once your application is approved, you and your dependants are given an official medical insurance card and are entitled to free health services in Poland.

EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state healthcare here during a short-term visit. UK citizens can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post-Brexit. If you’re a UK national living in Poland, you’ll be entitled to healthcare on the same basis as Polish citizens.

One disadvantage of public healthcare is that the NFZ issues quotas on the number of free state procedures doctors can perform. For this reason, if you need either consultation or minor treatment, you may find yourself on a waiting list for months before receiving service.

A further issue is that it is necessary to first get a referral from a General Practitioner (GP) in order to consult a medical specialist, further increasing the waiting time before receiving treatment. Many expats report that this referral system is particularly challenging when language barriers exist.

Private healthcare and insurance in Poland

Private healthcare in Poland is often used to supplement the public sector. Many Poles choose this option to avoid the long waits of the state system. In fact, many of the same doctors who work for the NFZ have private practices on the side, in which they can bypass the limits of the quota system and treat patients as they see fit.

Private treatment costs vary but are relatively affordable compared to Western European standards. However, continuous treatment will certainly pull at your purse strings. You should explore your private healthcare insurance options and consider securing a comprehensive policy.

Comprehensive private insurance policies typically cover GP and specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, and outpatient care. However, most standard packages exclude dental treatment, rehabilitation services, and specialised treatments like cancer care. Many expats praise the efficiency and English-language support of private healthcare. Note that you may still need to use the public system for serious conditions.

Pharmacies and medication in Poland

Pharmacies (Apteka in Polish) are widely available in Poland and are easily recognisable by the green cross on a white background symbol. Some in the major cities are open 24/7, although you may need to check online for their locations when outside urban centres.

You’ll find a wide selection of over-the-counter medicines in Poland, many of which are reasonably priced, although still often more expensive than in other EU countries. Interestingly, some medications like dextromethorphan (in cough syrups), codeine, pseudoephedrine and certain nasal decongestants can be purchased without a prescription in Poland, whereas they require one in many other countries.

Conversely, some antibiotics and stronger pain medications that might be available over the counter in other parts of the world will require a prescription in Poland. Medication in Poland may cost you more than you're used to. The state does not sponsor most prescription drugs, and some medicines associated with long-term illnesses, such as asthma, depression, heart disease and diabetes, are only partially funded.

Health risks in Poland

Although there are few health risks in Poland, you should visit a health specialist to ensure you have the latest vaccine information.

When walking outdoors, particularly in wooded areas, you should be careful of tick-borne diseases such as encephalitis. Poland has several endemic regions for tick-borne encephalitis. Tick bites can be avoided by using appropriate insect-repellant and wearing long trousers.

Air pollution presents another health concern, particularly in major cities during the autumn and winter months. Poland has some of the worst air quality in the European Union, with 36 of the EU’s 50 most polluted cities located in the country. This is primarily due to coal burning for home heating and vehicle emissions. The pollution is particularly severe from October through March when many cities are covered in smog. If you have respiratory conditions, consider monitoring air quality apps and limiting outdoor activity on poor air quality days.

Vaccinations in Poland

Vaccination requirements in Poland follow European standards, and the CDC doesn’t recommend any additional country-specific vaccines for most travellers. For expats with kids, the Polish vaccination schedule is comprehensive and includes protection against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella, and rotavirus.

An additional vaccine to consider is the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine if you plan to spend time in forested areas, as Poland has endemic regions for this disease. Seasonal flu vaccines are also recommended, particularly if you live in major cities with air pollution issues.

Expats can access vaccination services through the public health system if insured with NFZ or through private clinics. In most cases, you’ll need a PESEL number to access public vaccination services. For children under 19 staying in Poland for longer than three months, vaccinations on the standard Polish schedule are compulsory regardless of nationality or residency status.

Emergency services in Poland

Emergency services in Poland are often prone to time delays, especially in areas outside the major urban centres. In some cases, it might be faster to make your own way to treatment centres if your condition allows. Poland’s emergency medical system includes paramedic-led ambulances for most calls, with physicians being dispatched to critical cases, similar to the Anglo-American model.

Poland has both service-specific emergency numbers and a unified European emergency number. You can call 112 for all emergencies, which is available free of charge throughout the country from both landlines and mobile phones, even without a SIM card. Operators at emergency notification centres typically speak Polish and English.

Alternatively, you can use the service-specific numbers:

• 997 (police)
• 998 (fire)
• 999 (ambulance)
• 0608 599 999 (multilingual emergency line for foreign tourists)

Many private insurance companies offer 24/7 helplines with English-speaking staff and can help coordinate emergency care. The Alarm112 mobile application is also available for sending emergency reports to notification centres.