Poland want to cancel the provision of medical services to Ukrainian refugees

Poland want to cancel the provision of medical services to Ukrainian refugees

Politicians from the Polish party Confederation proposed to revoke the provision of medical services to Ukrainian refugees who do not contribute to the National Health Fund (NFZ).

The relevant legislative proposal was presented in the Sejm.

According to a special law adopted in Poland after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainians who legally arrived in the country after February 24 have the right to free medical care, as well as to purchase medications on preferential terms, just like insured Polish citizens.

The Deputy Marshal of the Sejm and Confederation politician Krzysztof Bosak noted at a press conference that these rights create inequality. According to him, Ukrainian refugees gain access to NFZ services without paying contributions, whereas all other foreigners and Poles have to work or register with the labor office to receive such privileges.

“This is a privilege that cannot be ignored. Even unemployed Poles are obliged to register with the labor office to access the healthcare system. In this case, nearly a million Ukrainian citizens use NFZ services without contributions. We estimate that this has cost the Polish budget approximately one billion zlotys since the beginning of the war,” Bosak stated.

The politician emphasized that the goal of the Confederation’s initiative is to equalize Ukrainian refugees with other foreigners residing in Poland. In their opinion, to access NFZ services, Ukrainians should either pay contributions or work.