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Polish president OKs free medicines for seniors

29.08.2023 20:00
Poland's president has signed into law a plan to offer free medicines to children and young people up to the age of 18, and to seniors past the age of 65, a move pledged by the country's ruling conservatives as part of a new package of benefits.
President Andrzej Duda signs the new rules into effect at a ceremony in Warsaw on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
President Andrzej Duda signs the new rules into effect at a ceremony in Warsaw on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

President Andrzej Duda greenlighted the measure at a special ceremony on Tuesday after it was approved by Poland's parliament.

Under the law, an estimated 11.5 million Poles, including some 7 million children and youth, will gain access to free medication, according to officials.

Previously free medicines were available to seniors over the age of 75, some 4 million people in total, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Now the number of those eligible will increase to around 16 million and the programme will be worth PLN 2.4 billion (EUR 540 million, USD 580 million) a year, the Polish government said.

Moreover, the number of medicines covered by the programme will almost double to 4,000, according to officials.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, TVP Info