"Realistic valuations." First expectations immediately after the presentation of the new health minister.

• Izabela Leszczyna's place in the Ministry of Health will be taken by Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, the current head of Pomeranian Hospitals.
• The physiotherapists' professional self-government has high hopes for the change in the minister's position. Primarily, it will bring cooperation and reforms in rehabilitation.
• - We also expect support for the full implementation of the new model of outpatient physiotherapy care and realignment of pricing - says the head of the National Chamber of Physiotherapists (KIF)

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced changes to the government. After less than 600 days in office, Izabela Leszczyna will leave the position of Minister of Health and will be replaced by Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, previously president of Szpitale Pomorskie sp. z o.o.

In his speech, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Health would thus be placed exclusively in the hands of specialists managing the entire healthcare system. The sole goal would be to improve the situation of patients.

We asked Dr. Tomasz Dybek, president of the National Council of Physiotherapists, for a comment on the changes in the position of the head of the ministry.

The head of the physiotherapists' professional self-government emphasizes that he valued his collaboration with Minister Izabela Leszczyna. "Although these were not easy conversations—often demanding, sometimes difficult—they were conducted with respect and openness to arguments. The minister demonstrated attentiveness to the voices of our community and initiated important processes that improved the working conditions of physiotherapists," he emphasized.

"A moment of change is always a time of expectation – we hope that the appointment of Ms. Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda will provide impetus for the further professionalization of the system. We are counting on continued positive efforts and renewed energy in solving problems. The Prime Minister's announcement to staff the ministry with specialists offers hope for a more stable approach, based on long-term planning and collaboration with the medical sector. We hope that the new minister will not only be a steward of the system, as the Prime Minister described her, but also a partner in continuing important changes – including the development of physiotherapy as a key element of modern healthcare," adds the President of the National Institute of Health.

He also acknowledges that Sobierańska-Grenda is experienced in hospital management and known for her efficiency and consistency in this field. "If she transfers this management style to the national level, it could bring about change," Dr. Dybek believes.

He sees the words about the "departmentalization and depoliticization" of the Ministry of Health as a declaration that offers hope for qualitative change. "If the overarching goal is indeed—as the Prime Minister said—to improve the situation of patients, this cannot be achieved without strengthening entire therapeutic teams, including physiotherapists," he points out.

"We need reforms. We hope for substantive and partnership-based cooperation."

The local government also has high hopes for the ministerial change. The head of the KIF is primarily counting on a continuation of what has already been worked out with Minister Leszczyna.

"We hope that Minister Sobierańska-Grenda will engage with our community in a substantive and collaborative manner. We need well-thought-out reforms in the area of rehabilitation, such as a new regulation on guaranteed services, an amendment to the Act on the Physiotherapy Profession, and the financing of services," Dr. Dybek says.

"We also expect support for the full implementation of a new model of outpatient physiotherapy care and for realigning the valuation of services, which are currently deeply underestimated. We hope that the new minister will recognize the importance of physiotherapy as a vital link in healthcare—both for patients and for the stability of the entire system," says the president of the National Council of Physiotherapists.

Representatives of the medical profession's professional association took a much harsher view of the change in the position of health minister. "Instead of a political signal that health care is important to the government, we have more names in the health minister's chair and a direct attack on medical professionals," commented Jakub Kosikowski, spokesman for the Supreme Medical Chamber, commenting on Donald Tusk's speech.

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