European Health Systems in Transition Observatory on Health Systems and Policies HiT Summary Poland Fig. Average life expectancy at birth in Poland compared with selected countries and regional averages, 970–2003 80 75 70 65 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 Czech Republic Germany Hungary Lithuania Poland EU average EU average for Member States joining 1 May 2004 Source: European Health for All database, June 2005. Note: EU: European Union. Overview development of a positive attitude in the society towards the health system and health reforms. After the introduction of health reforms initiated in 1989, the new Law on Health Care Services Health expenditure and GDP Financed from Public Sources (2004) further In 2002, total expenditure on health in Poland as a reformed the current law in areas defining: the percentage of GDP reached 6.1%: 2.6 percentage responsibilities of the Ministry of Health, the points lower than the average of 8.7% for governance of the National Health Fund and countries belonging to the EU prior to May 2004, health planning. While significant achievements, European Observatory such as greater longevity, shorter hospitalization on Health Systems and Policies stays, improved primary health care, and a WHO Regional Office for Europe greater focus on health prevention and promotion, Scherfigsvej 8 DK-200 Copenhagen have been accomplished, numerous challenges, Denmark such as unfavourable demographic trends, an Telephone: +45 39 7 7 7 Fax: +45 39 7 8 8 underfunding of the public health system and E-mail:
[email protected] limited access to care, continue to hinder the www.euro.who.int/observatory HiT summary: Poland, 2005 and 0.5 percentage points below the average of in negative natural population growth as in new EU Member States.