"Today is a symbolic day as we start to rebuild our public health services," Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters.
Poland's Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announces the launch of the new 40-Plus Prevention Programme at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Raszyn near Warsaw on Thursday. PAP/Rafał Guz
"The 40-Plus Prevention Programme is taking off and we are also enabling patients to have unlimited access to specialist doctors," he added.
The 40-Plus Prevention Programme aims to make Poles healthier by ensuring early detection and treatment for a broad section of the public, according to officials.
Millions of Poles over 40 years old will be able to take advantage of the new medical plan, which starts on July 1 and runs until the end of 2021.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said that the 40-Plus Prevention Programme is designed to "identify potential health risks and catch diseases at the earliest possible stage."
The bottom line is to ensure that "professional treatment is provided to all those in need as soon as possible," he told reporters.
The 40-Plus Prevention Programme includes a set of screening tests for all those eligible, with separate packages for men and women, according to public health officials.
The initiative comes as the government promises to improve access to healthcare for patients after months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An ambitious "Polish New Deal" initiative unveiled by the country’s ruling conservatives in May provides for a massive cash injection into the national health system, with healthcare spending expected to rise to 7 percent of GDP by 2027.
Poland's ruling conservatives in October 2019 pledged to bring in a raft of new policies including free medical tests for everyone aged over 40.
(gs/pk)
Source: PAP