Better Not to Get Sick This Year — Lublin Health Alert

4 April 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Hospital leaders warn cuts will limit diagnostics in Lublin. Better not to get sick this year, say clinicians as NFZ plans funding cuts.

Better not to get sick this year — hospital chiefs in Lublin issued a stark warning after the National Health Fund (NFZ) proposed deep funding cuts to diagnostics. Consequently, leaders say the changes will reduce access to CT, MRI, gastroscopy and colonoscopy, and they fear it will cost lives.

Table of Contents

Better not to get sick this year

The NFZ announced it will cut reimbursements for diagnostics performed beyond contractual limits. In practice the Fund currently pays 100 percent for tests beyond contract levels. However, the proposal would lower that to 40 percent. Therefore clinics and outpatient diagnostic units face immediate financial pain.

Piotr Matej, director of the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Lublin and acting director of the Lublin Oncology Centre, spoke bluntly. Moreover, he told local media the move contradicts national health policy. In addition, he pointed to the National Oncology Strategy that emphasises screening and early diagnosis. Consequently, he said the plan will increase long-term system costs and worsen patient safety.

Doctors across the region already plan to limit appointments. In fact the Supreme Medical Chamber (Naczelna Izba Lekarska, NIL) reported that diagnostic units will reduce intake from April. Moreover, large CT and MRI centres in Lublin and Masovian clinics signalled they will impose limits. Therefore patients will wait longer for essential scans.

What the cuts mean for hospitals and patients

Emergency departments will feel the pressure fast. If patients cannot get timely CT or MRI appointments they will seek help at emergency rooms. Consequently, A&E units will overwhelm. Moreover, staff say this will paralyse services that already run at high capacity.

Clinicians fear unfair access will grow. In addition, NIL warned that social connections and ability to pay might decide who gets scans when limits bind. Therefore equity will suffer. Furthermore this risk echoes past problems where informal pressure influenced care priorities.

Financial and policy context

The NFZ holds the public purse for most healthcare in Poland. In addition, explainers: NFZ means National Health Fund. ZUS refers to the Social Insurance Institution that manages pensions and contributions. PESEL denotes a Polish national ID number used in healthcare registration. Moreover, the DILO card refers to an oncology diagnostic pathway that aims to speed diagnosis for suspected cancers. However, despite assurances that children and cancer patients remain protected, experts say overall access will shrink.

Therefore the proposed change may save the Fund short term. However, clinicians predict higher costs later from advanced disease and more complex care. In addition, delays in diagnosis will reduce survival chances in cancers and other serious conditions.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you live in Poland as an expat, register with a GP and keep copies of referrals. In addition, learn basic Polish healthcare terms. Remember NFZ manages public care. Also keep your PESEL and insurance documents handy. If you have urgent symptoms, use the emergency department (SOR). Finally, consider private diagnostics if you can afford them, but check reimbursement rules first.

Local leaders called for clarity and a reversal. Moreover they urged the Ministry to align funding with prevention strategies. Consequently the city risks longer waits, overwhelmed emergency rooms, and worse outcomes if the NFZ keeps the plan.

Source: Read original article