Financing occupational health services in Poland

Abstract

Objectives. Financing occupational health services (OHS) at the regional and basic level is an important issue in view of the transformation process going on in OHS in Poland. The Occupational Health Services Act from 1997, The Public Finance Act from 1999 and The Labour Code Act with amendment have been regulated by the new principles of financing. The organizational structures and the financial system have been changed since 1 January 1998. The process is still being continued. The gaps between information systems of past and present financial data enforced the examination of the current situation in regard to the structure of financing and internal allocation of financial means.

Material and method. The studies of OHS funding were carried out by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz. The data were collected and analysed for the period 1998–2000. They included full accessible statistics on OHS funding in Poland. The information on the financing system was collected by a questionnaire mailed to directors of OHS centres, and was supplemented by direct contact with directors.

Results and conclusions. Sources of OHS financing in Poland are as follows: local government, state budget, companies, social health insurance institutions (since 1 January 1999 a social health insurance system has been implemented), OHS providers (as primary units), other sources. Analyses of their structures in a given period were conducted. The role of companies and social health insurance institutions in financing Regional Occupational Health Services Centres (ROHSCs) was considered in relation to the existing law regulation.