Skip the line to see a doctor. Current list of eligible persons. Check if you are on it

Amendments to the provisions of the Act on Patient Rights and the Patient Ombudsman and other acts and regulations created by the Ministry of Health brought changes to the list of people entitled to use health services out of turn. Recently, a new group has joined the ranks of the “privileged.” The right of “priority” applies in clinics, hospitals, specialist clinics, and other centers providing health services.

What does it mean in practice? An eligible person receives assistance on the day of reporting to the facility. If this is not possible, another date is set outside the order resulting from the waiting lists maintained in a given place (in specialist clinics, the visit must take place within 7 days of notification). An exception to the priority rule are the rules applicable in hospital emergency departments (EDs). There, the patient’s health condition determines the order of admission. First, patients with life-threatening conditions are treated. To benefit from access to benefits out of turn, the entitled person must present a document confirming the “privileges” obtained (e.g. pregnancy progress card, disability certificate, etc.).

Access to a doctor without queuing – current list of eligible persons

The emergence of a new group of people entitled to use health services out of turn is, among other things, the result of the creation of the Medical Event Compensation Fund. The current list of “privileged” patients includes:

• pregnant women,

• Distinguished Honorary Blood Donors and Distinguished Transplant Donors,

• people with significant disabilities,

• people with disabilities who are unable to live independently and require constant care,

• war and military invalids,

• veterans,

• civilian blind victims of war,

• anti-communist opposition activists and people repressed for political reasons,

• soldiers performing territorial military service receiving services in medical entities established by the Ministry of National Defense and supervised by this ministry,

• substitute military service soldiers,

• children and teenagers who have been diagnosed with a severe and irreversible disability or life-threatening disease (health problems arising during the prenatal period of human development or during childbirth),

• people deported for forced labor,

• persons who have been granted a compensation benefit for medical damage suffered while providing health care services financed from public funds in a hospital (the right of priority is valid for 5 years from the date of granting the benefit),

• eligible soldiers or military sector employees whose percentage of health impairment is at least 30%,

• veterans whose percentage of health impairment is at least 30%,

• professional soldiers (if they receive services from medical entities established and supervised by the Ministry of National Defense).

Where can I find information about queues for doctors?

Information on available treatment dates is available on the website of the National Health Fund (NFZ) at terminyleczenia.nfz.gov.pl. You can also use the Patient Information Telephone. Just call 800 190 590. The free hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.