“From April 1 this year, restrictions on palliative care and hospice care will be abolished,” Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna announced at the Civic Coalition local government convention in Olsztyn. Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski responded that Poles want to focus on practical problems, and that local elections should center on concrete solutions. He noted that eight years of political upheaval had placed local administrations on the front lines, delivering essential services. The current coalition government, he suggested, has sometimes strayed from the rule of law as it pursues its agenda.
At the Civic Coalition’s local government convention in Olsztyn on Saturday, Minister Leszczyna referenced changes to the calculation of health insurance premiums for entrepreneurs, effective January 1, 2025.
“We are lifting the boundaries of palliative care and hospice care, please note, from April 1,” the Health Minister stated.
The draft regulation from the National Health Fund proposes that financial limits will not apply to departments of palliative medicine, inpatient hospices, home hospices, and palliative medicine clinics. To date, the restrictions have not only impacted palliative services and hospice services for children and adolescents.
In 2019, the Supreme Court highlighted issues related to restricted access to palliative care. A post-audit report indicated that these limits contributed to queues in hospices and left some patients without support.
Public consultations on the project are open through March 27, 2024.
Achievements of the Ministry of Health?
Minister Leszczyna reminded attendees that starting June 1 this year, certain promises are being fulfilled. In vitro fertilization will be financed from the state budget, with consideration for patients needing oncological therapy who still wish to start a family later.
She highlighted the commitment to free prenatal tests, available from May 1 this year regardless of age, when doctors determine they are necessary. Perinatal anesthesia will be offered on request in every gynecology and obstetrics department.
From May 1, the morning-after pill will be accessible without a prescription, even if the president vetoes a change to pharmaceutical law.
Leszczyna also mentioned that the state budget will fund a 24-hour helpline for children and youth. On the 116 line, there will be 111 professionals—including psychologists, psychiatrists, and lawyers—ready to support young people.
The coalition has reason to be proud of progress in several areas, including the National Oncology Network Act, which was enacted last year and shaped under the previous administration. A draft amendment to the KSO law was adopted on February 6, aiming to ensure comprehensive oncological care with clearly defined treatment standards. The proposal also introduces changes to the deadlines for initial facility qualification for different levels of oncology care, with completion required by March 31, 2025.
READ MORE: Leszczyna delays important bill on cancer patients and attacks doctors. Threats related to abortion
Trzaskowski on local elections
Rafał Trzaskowski spoke at the Civic Coalition conference in Olsztyn, stressing that in addition to reforming after previous administration, local government actors and the central government are addressing real issues faced by Polish families. He spoke about infertility, psychiatry, child psychology, and the modernization of education, including data verification and the role of artificial intelligence. These are real problems, according to the vice-chairman of the party.
The Warsaw mayor also identified job creation, support for entrepreneurs, and making cities more tolerant, green, and modern as key priorities for Polish residents.
In his view, ordinary people want practical solutions, and in challenging times, eight years of democratic setbacks and local government strains were felt most acutely at the local level. He argued that when citizens’ rights were restricted under the rule of law debates, local governments rose to the challenge, including in vitro fertility access. He asserted that local governments stood up in defense of citizens’ rights.
Trzaskowski criticized the previous administration for trying to weaken local government by diverting funds away from municipalities. He said efforts are underway to craft a law ensuring that local government budgets and revenues operate independently of central government decisions, which he described as essential for empowering self-government.
The Warsaw mayor asserted that Poland has built a local government that upholds Polish democracy, and he urged continued resilience in the face of uncertainty. He argued that Poland should project strength in Europe and the surrounding region as a steadfast democracy.
His remarks about how the ruling party has treated the rule of law were viewed by some as political contention, but he also pointed to unfinished local projects, including transportation ambitions in Warsaw, as examples of ongoing governance challenges.
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