Religa's prescription for the NFZ

According to plans adopted by Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz's minority government, the National Health Fund (NFZ) will still operate for the next two years but will be more dependent on the Health Minister. Then it will be replaced by two or three independent but state-owned funds, which will bring an end to the NFZ's monopoly.

Last week Religa said that the Ministry would also work on a constitution to regulate the health system in Poland. He also presented his closest co-workers: Bolesław Piecha, a recent critic of Religa's plan, Jarosław Pinkas, Wacława Wojtala and Andrzej Wojtyła, who will be equally responsible for the reforms.

The Minister announced that he agreed with Jerzy Miller, the president of the National Health Fund, that before making decisions, the NFZ would have to consult the Ministry in order to construct a homogenous health policy. Dr Tomasz Zdrojewski of the Medical College of Gdańsk will create an independent board of specialists that will monitor the actions of the Ministry.

As specified in the Ministry's plans, the citizens' contribution to the health service deducted from wages remains. Simultaneously, the subsidy from the budget that will finance specialist and modern services, as well as emergency services, will grow.

During the next two years the Ministry will also create a packet of guaranteed services.