Rafał Trzaskowski has voiced support for reducing the health insurance contribution, aligning with Donald Tusk’s bid for the Polish presidency. He argues that lowering the health premium would cut costs across the health system. What does EU data reveal about Poland’s health care financing?
In a Polsat News interview, Trzaskowski outlined the proposal and reminded viewers that his campaign has long promised a reduction in the health premium.
Should he win the presidency, he would speed up the adoption of shared reforms. He contends that entrepreneurs expect decisive action. Lowering the premium would push the system to find efficiencies and ease the overall burden. The pledge remains to reduce the health contribution while reforming health care so that certain costs can be trimmed.
These moves are presented as pragmatic steps to modernize how people register for medical visits and how cancellations are processed. The campaign team is actively advancing the initiative.
These changes include strengthening the system for booking medical visits and improving cancellation management. The reform effort will require strong coordination among health authorities and the government.
Eurostat data
Poland’s health financing picture remains challenging. As of February 4, 2025, media reports based on Eurostat figures show preventive health spending per person at 22 euros, the lowest in the European Union.
Eurostat data from 2022 show the European Union on average spends 202 euros per person on preventive care, up about 6 percent from 2021. The highest levels were reported in Germany at 458 euros, Austria at 411 euros and the Netherlands at 312 euros. This contrast highlights Poland’s position within the union and the challenges it faces in prevention funding.
Within EU members, Poland ranked last with 22 euros per person, behind Romania at 24 and Bulgaria at 31. In that year only about five percent of health spending went to prevention in Poland, while the per-person figure in 2021 stood at 21 euros. Analysts note the persistent gap in preventive investment between Poland and its larger European neighbors.
Observers noted the trend and what it means for long-term health outcomes in Poland and for potential policy reform across the EU.
Hazel’s words
In connection with Trzaskowski’s remarks, Izabela Leszczyna, who has led these policy areas, and her public statements on health protection are recalled. In September 2022 she spoke on radio and suggested that these problems could be solved with a simple, magical solution.
She clarified that changing the health system is not something that can be done with a single stroke of luck. That admission came after she later became Health Minister. In January 2024, on RMF Radio, she stated that substantial reform requires steady effort and a sustained plan.
The question remains whether Trzaskowski understands the current state of Poland’s health care system and the spending plans that are being proposed. A broader look at policy context shows how budgeting choices connect to access, efficiency, and long-term resilience.
Media coverage on these matters has involved Polsat News and other outlets, reflecting the public interest in how health policy will be shaped in the coming years.