Opposition: the government is moving towards privatization of healthcare. The government: this is a political game of the opposition

• On Tuesday, June 24, the first reading of the draft resolution "on opposition to the privatization of public health care" is scheduled during the Sejm Health Committee.
• The document was prepared by PiS MPs. - So that this government, through the subsequent steps taken, does not go towards privatization of health care - says Katarzyna Sójka, vice-chairwoman of the committee representing the applicants
• - We are all - maybe not the Confederation - in agreement that privatization of hospitals and the health care system cannot take place - replies KO MP Marta Golbik, chairwoman of the committee

"The Sejm of the Republic of Poland, guided by the constitutional obligation to protect the health of citizens and the principle of equal access to health care services financed from public funds, expresses its strong opposition to the government's actions leading to the actual privatization of the health care system in Poland" - we read in the draft resolution.

"The government's recent actions leave no illusions that the real intention is to privatize healthcare and take away the right to treatment from less affluent people who will not be able to afford treatments, surgeries or doctor visits," it added.

As former Minister of Health Katarzyna Sójka (PiS) explains to us, the idea behind her party’s submission of the resolution is, among other things, one of the versions of the hospital reform project, in which provisions were added regarding the possibility of merging SPZOZs with companies .

Some experts said at the time that it was about making it easier to merge hospitals with different legal personalities. Others pointed out that these provisions could facilitate privatization .

- We want Minister Leszczyna to withdraw from this. So that this government, through various mechanisms, subsequent steps taken, does not go towards privatization of health care - says Sójka.

Let us recall that the then project did not gain support among the coalition partners and was withdrawn from the government meeting . Currently, the ministerial team for developing reforms recommends the return of provisions on the easier consolidation of entities with different legal personality. In what form? The project has not yet been presented.

- In fact, the Council of Ministers itself saw the problem, withdrawing the version of the project that facilitated the commercialization of hospitals. There was also a conflict about this in the management of the Ministry of Health. Deputy Minister Wojciech Konieczny from the Left opposed these provisions, which means that the ruling coalition itself cannot agree with itself - assesses Sójka.

- As a left-wing MP, as a nurse, I will never agree to the privatization of healthcare. We opposed it then, and we oppose it now if the idea of ​​the possibility of private entities taking over hospitals were to return - says Joanna Wicha, a Left-wing MP.

The chairwoman of the Sejm Health Committee , Marta Golbik (KO), explains that "since such a resolution has reached the Sejm, it needs to be dealt with".

- We will talk, we will explain, the Ministry of Health will explain that there is no question of privatizing healthcare. That all this fuss is just a political game by the opposition. We will dispel all fears, we will explain that nothing of the sort is happening - says Marta Golbik.

- If the MPs are against the simple provision of the resolution not to privatize healthcare in Poland, it will mean that they are not bothered by going in this direction - assesses Vice-President Sójka.

- We are all - perhaps the Confederation is not - in agreement that privatization of hospitals and the health care system cannot take place - replies Chairwoman Golbik.

Let us add that the resolution was submitted to the Sejm in April, immediately after the adoption of the act on reducing health insurance contributions for some entrepreneurs - as we read in the resolution - in no way compensating the gap that will arise in the health care budget amounting to approx. PLN 6 billion.

Ultimately, President Andrzej Duda vetoed the bill a month later.

The draft resolution calls on the Council of Ministers to:

• Ensuring full financing of the healthcare system, in particular by filling the budget gap.
• Refrain from taking actions leading to the privatization of medical services and weakening the position of public health care facilities.
• Immediate filling of the gap in the health care budget from funds that are to be transferred to Telewizja Polska in liquidation and to the 800+ benefit for Ukrainian citizens who are not in an employment relationship in the territory of the Republic of Poland.
• Presenting a recovery plan for the public health service that will ensure its stability, efficiency and accessibility for all citizens, regardless of their financial situation.

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