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Poland to increase health spending to 6 percent of GDP by 2025: official

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 19.10.2017 15:40
Healthcare expenditure in Poland will increase to 6 percent of GDP by 2025 under legislation approved by a key government committee, a Cabinet minister said on Thursday.
Government Standing Committee head Henryk Kowalczyk (left) and Health Minister Konstanty Radzwiłł at a press conference in Warsaw on Thursday. Photo: PAP/Paweł SupernakGovernment Standing Committee head Henryk Kowalczyk (left) and Health Minister Konstanty Radzwiłł at a press conference in Warsaw on Thursday. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak

The increase in health spending will take place gradually, beginning next year, Minister Henryk Kowalczyk, head of the Government Standing Committee, said.

Health Minister Konstanty Radziwiłł said that this was "a historic day for Polish healthcare". He added that the country's previous governments did not increase health spending despite a strong economy.

He also said that around PLN 1.5 billion (EUR 350 million, USD 420 million) in extra funds was likely to be injected into the national health service under an amendment to this year's budget.

“This will definitely improve the situation of hospitals” across the country, Radziwiłł said.

At the moment, Poland allocates 4.7 percent of GDP to healthcare.

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

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR

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