According to the “Health at a Glance 2024” report, in 2022, EU countries allocated an average of 10.4% of GDP to healthcare. Poland devoted just 6.4%, placing it fourth from the bottom among member states. Only Luxembourg (5.6%), Romania (5.7%), and Ireland (6.1%) spent less.
Poland also has fewer healthcare workers than the EU average, with 5.7 nurses and 3.5 doctors per 1,000 residents, compared to EU averages of 8.4 nurses and 4.2 doctors.
Poland has made strides to close the gap in healthcare staffing. Annual admissions to medical schools have nearly doubled, rising from 5,202 in 2012 to 9,707 in 2022. The share of doctors trained abroad has also increased significantly, from 0.4% to 3.8% over the past decade.
Despite broader challenges, Polish nurses enjoy some of the highest relative earnings in the EU, earning 160% of the national average salary, tied with Belgium. Across the EU, the average is 120%.
Life expectancy and mental health struggles
Poland’s life expectancy has risen modestly, from 77.1 years in 2013 to 78.6 years in 2023, though it remains below the EU average of 81.5 years. Women in Poland live longer than men (82.4 years vs. 74.8 years) but spend more time in poor health (17 years vs. 12.6 years).
Mental health remains a critical issue, particularly among adolescents and older adults. Polish 15-year-olds have the lowest mental well-being scores in the EU (46.7 compared to an EU average of 53.7). Among those aged 50 and older, 29.1% report depressive symptoms, nearly double the EU average of 16.75%.
The “Health at a Glance” report, produced annually by the European Commission and OECD, highlights pressing health issues across Europe. This year’s edition focuses on workforce shortages in healthcare and disparities in life expectancy.
(jh)
Source: PAP