Poles are turning to private medical services more and more often

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Poles are turning to private medical services more and more often

In 2022, Poles used private medical services more frequently than in the previous year, and the value of the private healthcare market—including spending on pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals— grew at a double-digit rate and exceeded 70 billion PLN, according to PMR’s latest report, “The Private Healthcare Market in Poland 2023. Market Analysis and Growth Forecasts for 2023–2028. The Impact of Inflation, the War in Ukraine, and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Market.”

Poles Are Using Private Medical Services More Frequently

Recent years in the private healthcare market—with the exception of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic significantly curtailed the operations of medical companies—can be described as relatively good.

In 2022, according to PMR estimates, the market value reached over 70 billion PLN. Although—as the PMR study shows—the percentage of Poles using private medical services in 2022 was at a similar level to that in 2021, the frequency with which patients use medical services continues to rise. This is directly linked to the rise in the number of seasonal infections—which are, among other things, a consequence of the pandemic and lockdowns—as well as greater health awareness among patients and the backlog of diagnostics and treatments caused by the pandemic.

According to PMR Forecasts, growth in the private healthcare market will continue over the next five years. However, the growing interest in private healthcare services poses challenges for the industry, including wage pressure and a shortage of medical staff, which in turn leads to longer waiting lists—even in the private sector.

The Growing Popularity of Health Insurance and Medical Plans

When considering only spending on medical services—that is, excluding spending on prescription and over-the-counter medications—the dominant segment of the market consists of medical services paid for on the spot. In recent years, however, we have seen a rise in the popularity of medical subscription plans and health insurance (products under which, for a fixed monthly fee, one receives access to specific medical services).

Health insurance plans and policies are a more cost-effective option for people who regularly use health care services. Inflation will also have a positive impact on this segment of the market—these types of products temporarily “protect” patients from rising medical costs, since the contracts are for a fixed term, most often 12 months.

According to PMR Forecasts, both health insurance and medical subscriptions will grow between 2023 and 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) higher than the average for the entire private healthcare market.

Methodology

The data presented here is taken from the PMR report: “The Private Healthcare Market in Poland 2023. Market Analysis and Growth Forecasts for 2023–2028. The Impact of Inflation, the War in Ukraine, and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Market,” for which, in January–February 2023, PMR conducted a consumer survey on a nationwide quota-random sample of 1,786 adult Poles, who were asked about their use of specific medical services. A total of n=1,199 Poles responded to the set of questions regarding private healthcare. The survey was conducted using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method.

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