The Role of the Healthcare System in Ensuring the Health Security of Citizens of the Republic of Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this article is to analyze the health policy implemented in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular emphasis on its impact on the functioning of the healthcare system and the overall state of public health. Key elements of anti-epidemic measures included isolation and quarantine of individuals infected or exposed to the virus, hospitalization of symptomatic patients, and intensive promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations. However, organizational reforms in the healthcare sector and the focus on combating COVID-19 have led to a limited availability of many healthcare services. Consequently, this has negatively impacted the health security of citizens. Furthermore, social restrictions and limitations in everyday life have contributed to the weakening of health-promoting factors such as lifestyle, environmental conditions, and access to preventive care and healthcare. A side effect of this health policy has been the accumulation of so-called health debt, manifested, among other things, by an increase in the number of deaths not directly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, referred to as excess deaths. This phenomenon highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of the consequences of decisions made in crisis situations and the need to develop a more sustainable approach to public health management in the future.