Bad-tasting medicine

According to a proposal by the Health Ministry, voluntary supplemental insurance would entitle patients to better accommodation in hospitals, a priority in their choice of doctors and additional nurse care. It would not provide patients with better therapy or medicines, nor would it allow them to see specialists faster. However, supplemental insurance would give patients preferred treatment for services not included in the "basket of services" paid for by the National Health Fund (NFZ)

The bill's originators expect supplemental insurance to become widely popular, and thus the premiums are to be cheap - about zł.32, zł.7-10 of which would be paid by the patient, while the rest would be paid by employers and the national budget.

However, the Ministry's project has provoked controversy among both followers and opponents of supplemental health insurance. Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński has already announced that he will not support the bill, which he believes could result in better treatment in public hospitals for those who can afford to pay more.