The Ministry of Health of Poland published the National Health Program (NHP) which serves as a strategic public health document and provides the foundation for actions in this domain. As stipulated in Article 9 of the Public Health Act of September 11, 2015, the program is developed for a period of no less than five years. The strategic goal of the National Health Fund for the 2021–2025 period is to extend healthy life years and reduce social inequalities in health outcomes.
The adoption of the National Health Program was a central provision of the Public Health Act, which came into effect on December 3, 2015. The 2021–2025 National Health Program largely builds on the foundations and achievements of the 2016–2020 program. It aligns with legal frameworks outlined in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of March 30, 2021 (Journal of Laws 2021, item 642) and the Announcement of the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on January 20, 2021 (Journal of Laws 2021, item 183).
The NHP outlines several focused objectives to address pressing public health challenges:
- Prevention of Overweight and Obesity: Reducing the prevalence of these conditions to promote overall health and prevent related chronic diseases.
- Addiction Prevention: Implementing measures to reduce addiction rates and mitigate their health and social impacts.
- Mental Health Promotion: Enhancing mental health awareness, early intervention, and access to mental health services.
- Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases: Addressing environmental health risks and improving responses to infectious diseases.
- Demographic Challenges: Responding to population changes, such as aging, to ensure health system resilience and equity.
The principles governing the implementation of public health tasks include general contract terms for executing the program’s activities and an application mode for funding and operational management. The National Health Program emphasizes collaboration, strategic resource allocation, and adherence to legal standards to achieve its objectives effectively.
The full available document could be seen here.
