Can Poland afford its current healthcare model?

Poland’s healthcare system will face a direct question at the 2026 Economic Forum in Karpacz: can the current model of organization and financing remain viable in the coming years?

The three-day forum, scheduled for Sept. 8-10, will feature more than 500 sessions, debates, panels, presentations, author meetings and workshops. More than 6,000 political, business, academic and cultural figures are expected to attend.

The Health Forum, now in its 17th year, will bring together more than 700 experts and opinion leaders from government, local authorities, international institutions, academia, business and patient organizations. Its participants will include doctors, healthcare managers, pharmaceutical companies, technology innovators and policymakers.

The discussion comes as the system faces rising service costs, an aging population, staff shortages and higher patient expectations. Public spending is growing faster than the state’s financial capacity, while several areas require urgent investment.

“Can we still afford the current healthcare model?” will be moderated by Rzeczpospolita editor Dominika Pietrzyk. The announced participants include Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, nursing council president Mariola Łodzińska, National Chamber of Physicians president Łukasz Jankowski, Polish Hospital Federation president Jarosław J. Fedorowski and National Health Fund president Filip Nowak. Registration is due to close on Sept. 2 because of high interest.