Polish gov’t approves plan to boost health spending

Under the legislation, the increase in health spending will take place gradually, from 4.67 percent of GDP next year to 4.86 percent in 2019, 5.03 percent in 2020, 5.22 percent in 2021, 5.41 percent in 2022, 5.6 percent in 2023, and 5.8 percent in 2024.

Health Minister Konstanty Radziwiłł said the legislation would bring health expenditure in the country to its highest level ever.

He has earlier said that Poland's previous governments did not increase health spending despite a strong economy.

Meanwhile, resident doctors and other medical professionals continued a protest over pay and conditions, calling for health expenditure in Poland to increase steadily until it reaches 6.8 percent of GDP by 2021.

A doctors' union has announced that a “doctor-free day” will be held in the southern Małopolskie province on Wednesday amid an ongoing hunger strike.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR