The warning came during the sixth "Patient in Focus" conference in Warsaw last month.
At the end of 2023, Poland had 9.9 million people aged 60 and over, according to the latest data from Statistics Poland (GUS), the country’s state-run statistics office.
By 2060, that figure is expected to rise to 11.9 million. The trend points to growing demand for treatment of chronic diseases, rehabilitation, home support and long-term care.
Experts at the conference said Poland’s geriatric care system cannot meet that challenge on its own. The country has 195 geriatric outpatient clinics and 62 geriatric wards, with about 1,200 beds.
Participants argued that older patients need coordinated care from several specialists, rather than being sent from one doctor to another with little connection between treatments.
A major concern is polypharmacy, the use of many medicines at the same time.
The National Health Fund (NFZ), which finances Poland's public healthcare system, says one in three Poles over 65 takes at least five medicines a day. This increases the risk of dangerous interactions, side effects and complications.
Participants said pharmacies could play a larger role in reducing that risk because they are often the most accessible point of contact with the healthcare system for older people.
They said services such as medication reviews and patient education could make treatment safer.
The discussion also focused on local government services, including transport, housing, vaccination programs and prevention.
Warsaw city councilor Jarosław Jóźwiak, who chairs the city council’s health committee, said the capital was trying to approach support for older residents in an integrated way.
He noted that longer lives are reshaping how people work, retire and plan for old age, and bring more complex challenges for healthcare and social welfare systems.
"These days, the art of living is often about being able to do workouts at the gym at age 80 or 90," he said.
Speakers said activity, access to services and clear information are central to healthy aging. They also pointed to exercise, diet and daily habits as key factors in maintaining health and independence.
Conference participants concluded that Poland needs a stronger shift toward prevention, coordinated care, and cooperation between doctors, pharmacists, local authorities and public institutions.
Without that, they warned, the system will face growing pressure from avoidable complications, hospitalizations and fragmented treatment.
(rt/gs)
Source: pap-mediaroom.pl, zdrowie.pap.pl