Catastrophic healthcare expenditures in poland compared to other european countries – essence and socioeconomic effects
Catastrophic healthcare expenditures in poland compared to other european countries – essence and socioeconomic effects

Summary/Abstract: RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to present the phenomenon of catastrophic health care expenditures, which pose an increasingly serious social, economic, and political challenge. This phenomenon is multidimensional in nature, resulting from insufficient funding of the system, limited availability of public services, and socio-behavioral factors. The article presents the scale of the problem in Poland compared to other European countries and international experiences in identifying the causes of the increase in private healthcare expenditure. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The study uses an integrated research approach, combining descriptive, comparative, and narrative analysis. Descriptive analysis allowed for the presentation of numerical data on the structure and dynamics of private healthcare expenditure in Poland. Comparative analysis enabled the comparison of results with data from other European countries, while descriptive analysis allowed for the interpretation of the phenomenon in the context of its social and economic consequences. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The considerations presented in the article focus on the possibilities of utilizing international experience in health policy and ways of limiting the scale of private healthcare expenditure. Comparisons were made of the scale of private healthcare expenditure, which can lead to catastrophic expenditure in household budgets. Conclusions and recommendations were developed using deduction, based on public health theory, applicable legal regulations, and the identification of social behaviors. RESEARCH RESULTS: The analysis indicates that the growing burden of healthcare expenditure on households leads to the adverse phenomenon of catastrophic expenditure and deepens social inequalities, increases the risk of poverty and, as a consequence, further restricts access to healthcare services. This problem has not only economic but also social and health dimensions. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Catastrophic healthcare expenditures in Poland are becoming an important criterion for assessing the effectiveness of health policy. The conclusions of the analysis suggest the need to implement solutions based on international experience. However, it is not only crucial to increase financial outlays, but above all to improve the efficiency of the use of available funds and to strengthen the mechanisms for the financial protection of households.

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