The article highlights the current situation regarding the financing of specialist medical care in Poland, particularly under the Ambulatory Specialist Care (AOS) system. Following the removal of limits on specialist visits on July 1, 2021, by the ruling Law and Justice Party, the National Health Fund has been financially responsible for all visits to specialist practices. However, this policy aimed to reduce waiting lists has not had the desired effect, as the number of patients waiting for appointments has steadily increased, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The significant rise in demand for AOS services has placed immense pressure on the healthcare system.

Since the policy change, statistical data from 2021 to 2024 indicates an increase of 6% in AOS services per 100 patients, alongside a staggering rise in reported service costs from 8 billion zł to over 20 billion zł. In response, the National Health Fund introduced a system of incentives and penalties in 2022 for healthcare providers based on the number of new first-time patients they handle. Clinics falling below the national median for new patients that fail to increase their patient intake by 3 percentage points face financial penalties, which is a measure designed to encourage better patient management and reduce waiting times.

Looking ahead, discussions are ongoing about the potential reintroduction of visit limits to specialist doctors as a means to combat the increasing wait times faced by patients. Policymakers are weighing the implications of reinstating such limits against the backdrop of growing demand and escalating costs, which may influence future healthcare reforms in Poland.