Gdańsk Hospital Prepares To Limit Patient Services

The University Clinical Center in Gdańsk is rescheduling patient appointments for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The hospital is reacting to new diagnostic financing rules introduced by the National Health Fund (NFZ) at the beginning of April. The move affects the largest hospital in northern Poland. The Szydecki Clinical Center in Gdańsk announced that approximately 7,500 people are waiting for diagnostic services. The hospital decided to postpone appointments for 38% of these patients by 3 to 6 months. This measure excludes urgent oncology patients and children. The decision follows new National Health Fund (NFZ) rules where over-performance is only 50% reimbursed by the state. Dariusz Kostrzewa, President of Gdańsk Copernicus, is preparing to implement measures to manage patient queues as the month ends. The hospital is conducting simulations to assess needs following high excess performance costs. Kostrzewa stated that while they will not reduce excess services to zero, they intend to decrease the number of patients treated outside established limits. The National Health Fund (NFZ) reportedly pays half the rate for such cases.