Over 400 million of these are issued annually. The medical device industry is proposing changes.
- "Medical devices issued on commission - the Polish system compared to neighboring countries in the perspective of socio-health challenges" - this is the title of the report prepared by the POLMED Chamber and the INNOWO Institute
- This is the first comprehensive study in Poland describing the system of supplying patients with medical devices.
- The report also highlights the benefits of a flexible system for financing medical devices on demand.
- The experts also described challenges and proposals for changes
" Medical devices issued on commission - the Polish system compared to neighboring countries in the perspective of socio-health challenges " is the title of the report prepared by the POLMED Chamber and the INNOWO Institute.
The first study in Poland comprehensively describing the financing and functioning of the system for supplying patients with medical devices was presented at a meeting with industry representatives and decision-makers on Monday, October 13.
The report demonstrates the scale and importance of this segment for patients and the entire healthcare system. It also highlights how Poland's flexible financing model allows it to maintain high availability of medical devices despite having the lowest level of public funding in the region.
- In 2023, almost 413 million medical devices were issued on commission in Poland – from diapers and stoma bags, through wheelchairs and hearing aids, to orthoses and prostheses.
- The total value of public financing amounted to PLN 2.67 billion , which corresponds to an average of PLN 70.9 per capita – the lowest level among the countries of the Central European region.
- The current list includes 231 types of products in 23 product groups, and over 4,000 service providers are responsible for supplying them.
- Despite lower public spending, health outcomes and product availability in Poland are no worse than in neighboring countries - in many respects the Polish system ensures better matching of products to patient needs and faster access to new technologies.
- The Polish financing model, based on a flexible system, allows patients to co-decide on product selection and respond to market changes. This system is also more resilient to economic shocks, such as rising raw material, energy, and transportation costs.
The report notes that despite its strengths, the system requires better coordination and regular reviews. Key challenges include:
- aging society – by 2060 the number of people aged 75+ in Poland will double, which will increase the demand for medical products by over 40%,
- lack of regular updating of the list in terms of products and financing limits, which leads to an increase in patient co-payments,
- dispersion of financing sources (NFZ and PFRON), which hinders the effective use of public funds.
The report identifies specific solutions that would improve the operation of the commissioned medical device system. These include:
- Regular review of the medical device inventory – at least every two years, with the participation of clinical experts, patients and industry representatives.
- Periodic indexation of financing limits to keep pace with economic and market changes.
- Coherence of cooperation between the National Health Fund and the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (PFRON) so that patients can receive funding from both sources under one procedure.
- Transparent procedures for introducing new categories of medical devices and ensuring appropriate vacatio legis before the changes enter into force.
- Monitoring and full accountability of public funding based on data from the URPL WMiPB and EUDAMED systems.
As experts emphasized during the report presentation, the Polish system for supplying medical devices on commission is effective, stable and patient-friendly, but requires constant updating and better coordination between public institutions.
The introduction of the proposed solutions – as they argued – could provide patients with even wider access to modern and effective medical devices, and at the same time allow for the rational use of public funds.
"Products have become a crucial aspect of the healthcare system. And most importantly, their importance is noticeable at every turn. (...) Potential patients and their families are increasingly aware that these products are essential, make life easier, and in some cases allow for a relatively normal functioning in society," said Bartłomiej Bubula , chairman of the individual supply section at the Polmed Chamber.
Patryk Sucharda, from the board of the Polmed Chamber, emphasized the importance of innovation in the medical device sector. He argued that even seemingly minor medical innovations in products can significantly impact patients' quality of life.
Experts pointed out that, in addition to patients, medical devices are also used on request by family caregivers, caregivers, and nurses, and some medical devices may be ordered not only by doctors, but also by nurses and physiotherapists.
At least 3.5 million patients in Poland use medical devices – these are people with diagnosed disabilities. However, in reality, even 5.5 million people use them. Their number is growing by approximately 7-8 percent annually.
Hubert Bukowski , Research Director at Innowo, noted that the current flexible system provides many benefits for patients, including independent decision-making based on quality and cost, tailoring to expectations and individual needs, open access to innovations, and expert patient support. For the system, this, in turn, allows the payer to control public funding expenditure and reduces waste, which is greater in a rigid system.
The expert cited Slovakia as an example. "The flexible system also appears to be cheaper than the rigid one. Costs in Poland are 50 percent lower than in Slovakia," he said.
He pointed out that this is very important in the context of an aging population and the expected increase in healthcare costs, including increased spending on medical products that will be used by a larger number of people.
Robert Jagodziński, president of the Aktywna Rehabilitacja Foundation, noted that these trends are already visible and that demand for wheelchairs, among other things, can be expected to grow as more and more people use products that compensate for their mobility difficulties.
"The quality of the wheelchair a person uses determines their ability to function in public spaces and undertake employment," he argued. He pointed out that it's essential to be able to order a wheelchair or other medical devices early in the rehabilitation process, as the goal is often, among other things, adapting to functioning in a wheelchair. "Such a person should leave the ward with the ability to use a custom-fitted wheelchair," he emphasized. Currently, patients only arrange for a wheelchair after leaving the hospital and undergoing rehabilitation.
Andrzej Tytuła from the Supreme Chamber of Nurses and Midwives emphasized that in the context of an aging population, the demand for nursing care, long-term care, and geriatric care will increase, because families are often unable to care for patients long-term.
- In the long-term care process, medical devices facilitate the work of nurses and are an element in preventing certain complications, e.g. anti-bedsore products - he said.
Experts emphasized the need for better cooperation between the various sectors that control medical devices. Arkadiusz Grądkowski, President of the Polmed Chamber, pointed out that the cost of products is primarily borne by the National Health Fund (NFZ), while the resulting savings accrue to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).
Copyrighted material - reprint rules are specified in the regulations .
rynekzdrowia
