Interview with Wioletta Januszczyk, Managing Director of the Consumer Services Division at Medicover

News

Interview with Wioletta Januszczyk, Managing Director of the Consumer Services Division at Medicover

In an interview with PMR, Ms. Wioletta Januszczyk assessed the situation in the dental services market in Poland, discussing the company’s plans in this area and highlighting the biggest challenges currently facing the industry.

Over the past few years, we have observed Medicover’s rapid growth in the field of dental services, as it has become the largest dental network on the market in terms of both the number of locations and revenue generated. The consolidation of the dental services market in Poland slowed in 2023. What are your plans for the coming years? Are there plans for new openings and acquisitions, or is the company focusing on optimizing the clinics it already has in its portfolio?

We plan to continue growing in the near future and see enormous potential in the dental services market in Poland. The bigger we get, the easier I feel it is for us. We know how to work with the companies we acquire. We have several years of experience in this area.

Nevertheless, we have already achieved the market share and position in the dental services market in Poland that we had aimed for. Over the past three years, we have been rapidly expanding the number of dental centers, adding about 10 new locations each year. We are currently in the process of optimizing our portfolio, although we are, of course, still expanding. We have more openings of new centers planned for this year. We are primarily planning to open centers in larger cities.

Finding the right location is crucial for us right now, and that location will determine how many clinics we open.

We are by no means closing the door on acquisitions. We still have an ambitious action plan, and we will certainly be active in this area as well, because there are still a lot of “gems” on the market that we’ll be talking to. This isn’t an easy market for someone without experience in it. Medicover can provide significant added value to clinics that join its network.

How do you assess the development of the dental services market in Poland in 2023? Are there any threats facing the market, or has anything recently had a significant impact on the provision of services in this area?

The dental services market is fairly resilient to changes in demand. In 2023, Medicover saw solid double-digit year-over-year growth in sales of dental services. Economically, however, 2023 was a difficult year. The cost of capital, which has risen significantly over the past two years, certainly had a huge impact on investment opportunities in this area. In dentistry, we are seeing more than just rising material costs. The increase in the minimum wage, as well as changes in medical staff salaries, are also of key importance today.

This applies particularly to dental assistants and hygienists; these changes have definitely impacted dentistry and had to be reflected in the prices of procedures. Although prices are rising, we do not see this as a threat to the market. There is no concern that the market will be squeezed by rising prices. Poland still has a very low rate of dental care utilization. Dental needs are high, which is why we’re working to raise patient awareness. We have numerous studies that confirm how oral health impacts our overall health and well-being.

Wioletta Januszczyk

Member of the Medicover Board of Directors and Managing Director of the Consumer Services Division at Medicover

In recent years, we have seen an increase in funding for dental services from the National Health Fund (NFZ). In 2022, this increase was 23% year-over-year. In 2023, there was also an adjustment to the pricing of certain procedures in this area. Unlike Medicover, your company does not provide dental services under the NFZ; however, given the above, do you see an opportunity for growth in this area? Will you focus exclusively on providing dental services on a private basis?

We certainly aren’t limiting ourselves in this area. There is potential here to explore. We want to have an impact on people’s health in an ever-wider range of ways. If there’s a way to reach patients who can’t afford treatment—even if it means paying additional fees—then perhaps this is an option for Medicover’s dental services to reach a wider audience. Funding is increasing, but it’s still insufficient to provide high-quality services. The challenge is to ensure that National Health Fund (NFZ) funding is aligned with the quality that dental care should provide. Pediatric dentistry has the greatest potential here, but I do not foresee a breakthrough within the next two years. Rather, it will be a long-term process. However, it is very positive that changes are taking place in this area, and through public-private partnerships, we can achieve something meaningful.

Hume’s Institute stands for knowledge. PMR Market Experts stands for experience. When we join forces, you gain a competitive edge. See how we can support your business.