Abstract
Poland, like other countries with previously dominant state healthcare systems, has introduced ownership transformation in the healthcare structure. These changes, however, are being accomplished without a clearly defined state policy in this area. The aim of the present study was to assess the course and effects of ownership transformation in outpatient healthcare and hospitals. Data were collected from publications of the Central Statistical Office, which provided information on the numbers of outpatient healthcare institutions, medical practices, general hospitals, and services they provided. The healthcare ownership transformation has divided the medical services market into public and nonpublic providers. In addition, privatization of outpatient healthcare facilities precedes privatization of hospitals, outpatient institutions providing primary healthcare were privatized first; the subsequent stage included those providing specialized services, at first privatization of ambulatory medical infrastructure preceded privatization of services in urban areas, whereas in rural areas, privatization of services preceded structural privatization, privatization provides favorable conditions to improve territorial availability of outpatient healthcare in urban areas, medical practices, although numerous, are of little importance in providing services, the hospital ownership transformation is at its initial stage, and structural ownership transformation in the Polish healthcare system is subject to market rules.
[1] The Journal of Laws, Vol. 91, (1991), art. 8, pp. 408 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[2] The Journal of Laws, Vol. 28, (1997), art. 5, pp.153 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[3] The Journal of Laws, Vol. 171, (1996), art. 3, pp.1397 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[4] New Europe. Report on Transformation. XV Economic Forum. Krynica. Poland. 7–10 september 2005, pp. 43. Search in Google Scholar
[5] Statistical Yearbook CSO 2000–2005, CSO, Warsaw, 2000–2006 (in Polish Search in Google Scholar
[6] Regional Statistical Yearbook 2000–2006, CSO, Warsaw, 2000–2006 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[7] Statistical Yearbook CSO 1999, CSO, Warsaw, 2000 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[8] Regional Statistical Yearbook, CSO, Warsaw, 2000 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[9] The Healthcare Market: 2005-01-04 11:39:50 (Website publication) (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[10] L. Balcerowicz: “Most urgent assignments — interview”, Universal Capitalist, Vol. 3(67), (1998), (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[11] D. Malinowska and E. Król-Kończewska: “Privatization on ruins. “Do it your own way” instead of ownership transformation programme”, Medical Guidelines, (2000), pp. 6–8 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[12] A. Ostrowska: “From totalitarianism to pluralism in Poland. Problems of transformation on the health scene”, Eur J Public Health, Vol. 3(1), (1993), pp. 43–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/3.1.4310.1093/eurpub/3.1.43Search in Google Scholar
[13] J. Nemec and N. Kolisnichenko: “Market-Based healthcare reforms in Central and Eastern Europe: lessons after ten years of change”, Int Rev Adm Sci, Vol. 71, No. 1, (2006), pp. 11–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002085230606161110.1177/0020852306061611Search in Google Scholar
[14] R. Omachel: “Making money on healthcare”, The Daily. 2006.05.26, p. 25 (in Polish) Search in Google Scholar
[15] The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S.Commercial Service, Office of Export Promotion Services: “Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic, September 13–17, 2004”, Federal Register, (2004), pp. 69–89. Search in Google Scholar
[16] M.I. Roemer: “Recent healthcare system development in Poland and Hungary”, J Commun Health, Vol. 19,3, (1994), pp. 153–163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF0226037610.1007/BF02260376Search in Google Scholar PubMed
[17] P. Romaniuk and K. Krajewski-Siuda: “The Heath care system in Lithuania-selected elements, evolution”, Vol. 60,3, Ann Acad Med Siles, (2006), pp. 264–268. Search in Google Scholar
[18] Parliamentary Assembly Of The Council Of Europe: The reform of healthcare systems in Europe: reconciling equity, quality and efficiency, 11 September 2003, Doc. 9903. Search in Google Scholar
[19] Statistical Yearbook of the Slovak Republic. Verde. Bratislava (2006), pp. 171 Search in Google Scholar
[20] B. Lisowska: “Anin against Anin”, The Pulse of Medicine, Vol. 4(127), (2006), p. 4 (in Polish) Search in Google Scholar
[21] UNICEF TransMONEE database, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Health For All Data Base, June 2005. Search in Google Scholar
[22] Health For All Data Base, WHO 2004. Search in Google Scholar
[23] Ministry of Health Report: Healthcare Financing in Poland, Green Book, Warsaw, 2004 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
[24] A. Gozdowska: “Who’s afraid of ownership transformation?”, The Pulse of Medicine, Vol. 23, (2004), pp. 94 (in Polish). Search in Google Scholar
© 2007 Versita Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
