[The Polish healthcare system: perspectives and possibilities for adoption of healthcare systems from other countries of the European Union].

This work was undertaken to describe the basic elements of the Polish healthcare system and to examine possibilities for adoption of solutions existing in healthcare systems of other countries of the European Union. Healthcare systems were analyzed as to their model features and general directions of reform. Current problems, as well as attempts and concepts for reform of the Polish healthcare system were studied. Disadvantages and advantages of the Polish healthcare system are presented. The main disadvantages are: limited funding of medical services, monopoly of the National Health Fund (NFZ), lack of competition among insurers, unequal status of public versus private healthcare providers, indebtedness of public healthcare institutions, and limited access to healthcare.