The level of medicine in European countries is much higher than in Russia. And the point is not even the qualifications and training of doctors - Russian medical education is no worse than the Western one, but in the absence of modern high-tech equipment. This, as well as insufficient funding of domestic medical institutions, leads to the fact that Russians are increasingly seeking medical help abroad. But since the cost of treatment in most clinics in Europe and America is often unaffordable for average citizens of the Russian Federation, treatment in Poland becomes an excellent alternative.
Development of Polish medicine and healthcare
Since Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004, the level of its medicine has grown steadily. In order to successfully compete with medical institutions in other countries, Polish clinics provide the highest quality services that are 30-40% cheaper than in Western Europe, and 50-70% cheaper than in the United States.
Medical workers in Poland are constantly improving their qualifications in German, French, Swedish, British, American medical institutions. Moreover, funding for these purposes is allocated not only by the state, but also by the EU.
Currently, the Polish health care system is based on the law on universal health insurance. People with insurance receive health care services free of charge or pay for them in part.
There are also exceptions: some types of treatment (specialized services, long-term treatment in a hospital, rehabilitation center or sanatorium) are paid for all categories of the population.
The quality of services provided in Polish hospitals is at a fairly high level. The respectful and friendly attitude of the staff, the availability of any medicines, the use of innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment, modern medical equipment are positive aspects that patients note. As for the negative, you can often hear complaints about long queues at clinics, but this mainly concerns government agencies.
In private clinics, treatment is paid for by the patient, while the service is appropriate here: doctors are accepted without delay, and citizens in need of medical care have access to the most advanced technologies. The staff of such clinics usually speaks English or Russian.
In addition, visitors who do not speak Polish can be offered translation services - for full support or processing of medical documents. The Zależynam Special Center for Foreign Patients, which was recently opened in Warsaw, provides free services for foreigners insured by the National Health Fund (NHF, NFZ).
Medical diagnostics in clinics in Poland
Identification of many serious diseases (oncology, diabetes mellitus, aneurysm of the aorta and cerebral vessels and others) at an early stage often prevents the development of severe forms and complications. To this end, in university and private diagnostic centers in Poland, there are comprehensive programs to determine the state of the human body.
The studies are carried out on the latest generation equipment, which provides a gentle procedure and an accurate result. In addition, in Polish clinics, the service of double interpretation of results is widespread, when two independent experts make their own assessment of the state of the body.
Check-Up includes diagnostic procedures, the purpose of which is a qualitative assessment of the state of health and early detection of pathologies, diseases, or the threat of their development. The most common comprehensive examination programs in Polish clinics are:
- basic check-up;
- extended examination;
- narrowly focused analyzes.
Basic diagnostics are suitable for those patients who experience various ailments, but their cause is clearly not determined. The purpose of the examination is to diagnose at an early stage diseases of the cardiovascular system (CVS) and the presence of tumors. According to its results, it will be possible to judge the state of organs, muscles, skeleton, blood vessels of a person.
Typically basic chek-up includes the following services:
- consultation with a doctor, study of anamnesis;
- visual inspection;
- conducting magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to assess the anatomical and functional characteristics of blood flow;
- full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast agent to determine the presence of tumors and metastases and their possible location;
- written opinion of a doctor with recommendations and diagnostic results.
The name and list of procedures in different clinics may differ.
More complete - a detailed check-up includes a number of additional procedures and analyzes, in particular:
- ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of various systems and organs (blood vessels, thyroid gland, heart);
- electrocardiogram (ECG) with stress;
- tonometry and ophthalmoscopy of the eye - diagnostics of eye diseases, diseases of the nervous or other systems;
- lung function tests;
- fluorography;
- lab tests.
Narrowly targeted diagnostics are carried out to identify problems of specific organs and systems of the body:
- cardiological program - will allow you to find out the state of the CVS, the risks of developing diseases and recommendations for their prevention and prevention;
- endocrinological check-up - aimed at identifying problems with the thyroid gland and recognizing the latent forms of diabetes mellitus;
- gastroenterological check-up, including gastro- and colonoscopy, biopsy;
- programs for women (gynecological and mammological examinations) and men (urological check-up);
- surveys of couples who want to become parents.
In Poland, as in other European countries, a regular check-up of the state of the body is a generally accepted measure for those who look after their health. Today, check-up programs on modern high-precision equipment in Polish clinics are also available for Russian citizens.
The cost of treatment programs in Poland
Medicine in Poland is much cheaper than in other European countries. Approximate prices for diagnostic programs in Polish clinics are shown in the table:
| Check-up | Procedures: Base | Procedures: Extended | Procedures: Optimal | Cost, EUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For women | laboratory tests, ECG, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, mammary glands, consultation of a therapist based on the results | extended analyzes, plus to the basic: gynecological ultrasound, chest x-ray, consultations of a therapist, ophthalmologist, gynecologist | extended analyzes, plus extended: ultrasound of the thyroid gland, heart, consultations of a cardiologist, dermatologist | 135 / 399 / 559 |
| For men | laboratory tests, ECG, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, consultation of a therapist based on the results | extended analyzes, plus to the basic: consultations of a therapist, ophthalmologist, urologist, cardiologist | extended analyzes, plus extended: chest x-ray, ultrasound of the prostate, testicles, thyroid gland, heart, consultation with a dermatologist | 135 / 399 / 559 |
| Cardio | laboratory tests, ECG at rest and with physical activity, chest x-ray, ultrasound of the heart, consultations of a therapist, cardiologist | extended laboratory tests (including creatinine), Holter ECG, Holter RR, spirometry | - | 399 / 450 |
| Pulmonary | laboratory examinations, computed tomography of the chest, consultations (surgeon-oncologist, oncologist) | 360 | ||
| Uric | - | laboratory tests (urea, creatinine, urine, culture for women); diagnostics (uroflowmetry, urodynamics, ultrasound of the urinary system); consultations (urologist, gynecologist) | - | 535 |
The packages "extended" and "optimal" also add the services of a Russian-language translator.
Treatment of children in clinics in Poland
Special attention is paid to the treatment of children in Poland. In different cities there are entire pediatric clinics, which offer medical care for children with various diseases.
Specialists perform the most complex operations on the heart, internal organs in case of congenital pathologies or the consequences of trauma. Moreover, some types of medical care can be obtained only in clinics in Poland.
The conditions in the hospitals are impressive: perfect cleanliness, children's rooms, well-thought-out organization of wards, the ability to stay with parents - everything is aimed at the benefit of the little patient.
In addition to treatment, much attention is paid to early diagnosis of pathologies and diseases, as well as preventive measures aimed at maintaining the health of babies.
In the clinics, you can go through special check-up programs for children, for example:
- food allergy - 50 euros: blood test for 20 food allergens and a general one;
- inhalation allergy - 47 euros: a general blood test and 20 allergens (plants, animals);
- identification of parasites - 40 euros: blood test, feces;
- general health - 12 euros: blood test (general, for the level of glucose, iron, reactive protein), urine, pediatrician consultation.
For the prevention of diseases and rehabilitation in Poland there are many comfortable sanatoriums for children of various types.
Who can access free medicine in Poland?
The following categories of foreigners have the opportunity to receive high-quality medical services in Polish state clinics:
- Persons officially working in Poland. Legal employment in the country implies compulsory medical insurance at the NFZ, which means getting free treatment.
- Family members of the person insured with the NFZ:
- children under 18 years old, disabled children or continuing education up to 26 years old;
- spouse);
- parents, grandparents (subject to joint farming).
- Refugees, if their status is recognized in Poland.
- Non-working persons who are registered at the employment center.
- Schoolchildren, even if the stay of their parents in the country is illegal, and students studying in Poland.
- Persons with insurance in other EU countries or the European Free Trade Association.
- Foreigners legally residing in Poland and insured with the NFZ voluntarily.
- Tourists - have the right to free medical care within the framework of their insurance when they receive a visa.
- Foreign citizens doing business in Poland.
In addition, Poland provides various privileges, including free medical care, spa treatment and employment conditions, to people with disabilities. True, the state pays for the technical means of rehabilitation only partially for a disabled person.
Documents for a trip to Poland for treatment
To travel to Poland for the purpose of treatment or recreation, you need to open a Schengen visa. You can find out what documents are needed to travel to Poland for treatment at one of the official visa centers in major cities of Russia, or at the consular section of the Polish Embassy in Moscow.
In addition, many travel agencies now offer medical tours to Poland and assistance in obtaining visas.
The list of documents for a visa usually includes:
- completed visa application;
- foreign and Russian passports and their copies;
- travel ticket (including return);
- photographs (in accordance with the requirements of the EU Visa Code);
- visa fee payment form (EUR 19.5);
- medical insurance policy for a coverage amount of at least 30 thousand euros;
- certificate of income from the place of work;
- a bank statement (there must be sufficient funds on it, based on the calculation of 30 euros for each day of stay in Poland, as well as to pay for medical services).
In addition to the standard package of documents, you must provide a certificate from the clinic confirming the fact of the upcoming treatment.
Monitoring pregnant women in Polish clinics
Registration of NFZ insurance makes it possible for pregnant women to use medical services. To do this, you need to register with the clinic no later than the first trimester of pregnancy and visit a doctor in accordance with all prescriptions.
Pregnant women are given three free fetal ultrasounds, a cytological examination of smears, a urinalysis and an extended blood test, including:
- determination of the blood group and the Rh factor (with a negative Rh, they also include an analysis for antibodies);
- determination of blood glucose levels;
- RW and hepatitis C;
- glucose tolerance test (at the 7th month).
Childbirth is also free. This applies to both Poles and foreigners if they have an NFZ insurance policy.
Peculiarities of purchasing medicines in Polish pharmacies
A wide range of medicines is presented in Polish pharmacies, including not only medicines produced in the country, but also medicines from all over Europe. However, when intending to make a purchase in a pharmacy, it should be borne in mind that antibiotics, psychotropic, narcotic and other powerful drugs in Poland can be purchased only with a doctor's prescription.
Nevertheless, it is profitable for visitors from the CIS countries to buy medicines here, especially when it comes to expensive or special drugs that are very difficult to find in their homeland. In addition, for a certain amount of purchase, it is possible to issue a VAT refund (in Poland VAT - value added tax).
For the convenience of buyers in the country, there is a “Health” service on the Ceneo.pl portal, which allows you to quickly find the necessary drug in the country's pharmacies. At the same time, orders made online are often 30-40% cheaper than buying at a regular pharmacy.
The most famous Polish clinics
There are general hospitals in Poland, as well as clinics that specialize in specific diseases. The following institutions are most popular with patients:
- Medicover is the largest private multidisciplinary treatment center in Warsaw.
- Szpital Unewersytecki w Krakowie is one of the leading multidisciplinary medical centers in Krakow.
- Carolina Medical Center - specializes in the rehabilitation of athletes, rheumatology, traumatology and sports injuries, surgery; located in Warsaw.
- IQ Medica Clinic - professional plastic and aesthetic surgery services using the latest generation equipment in Warsaw.
- American Heart of Poland is a collaboration of prominent Polish and American cardiac surgeons in Ustron.
- Gyncentrum clinic - diagnosis and treatment of infertility in Katowice.
- Albusdent - functional and aesthetic dental correction in Krakow.
- Medincus is a hearing and speech rehabilitation center with offices in various cities in Poland.
- European Health Center at Otwock Hospital - the highest level of medical services in various areas, free of charge for the insured in the NHF.
Wellness holidays in Polish sanatoriums and resorts
A favorable climate, numerous unique in chemical composition mineral springs, curative mud, wonderful nature and clean ecology make Poland an ideal place for health resorts. Moreover, depending on the type of area, here you can find resorts for every taste:
- plain, for example, the Wieliczka Salt Mine sanatorium - treatment of the respiratory system;
- seaside: Kolobrzeg - treatment of endocrine pathology and metabolic disorders;
- mountainous: Rabka-Zdroj - children's and skin diseases, Krynica-Zdroj - diseases of the genitourinary system;
- piedmont: Muszyna-Zdroj - treatment of diseases of the digestive system.
You can go to the resort yourself or use the services of tour operators.For example, you can go to the luxurious 4-star health resort Arka Medical Spa located in Kolobrzeg, the largest resort town in the central part of the Baltic coast of Poland, directly from Kaliningrad.
Such a service is offered, for example, by the "Yunona" travel agency. Order details are available on the company's website.
Let's sum up
Today Poland for Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians is not only a tourist destination, but also one of those countries where you can get high-quality and, moreover, free treatment of the European level. The main requirement is to have an insurance policy with the National Health Fund. In addition, here you can buy medicines cheaper than in other European countries, as well as improve your health and have a good rest in exemplary health resorts.
