Poland will not strip regions of decision-making:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Despite the changes being introduced in the Polish healthcare system, the healthcare fund will remain separated from the state budget, Health Minister Mariusz Lapinski, told the Warsaw Business Journal in a recent interview. A central fund will be responsible for introducing regulations , standards and procedures throughout the financial healthcare system, including at local level. This should rid the system of the current inequalities in the pricing of medical services, Mr Lapinksi said. Local authorities will retain some independence in how to use their funds and in contracting services. Poland's annual healthcare budget is some Zl30bn ($7.5bn).The Minister says that his government's ultimate aim is to create a universal healthcare insurance system.