HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of the Polish healthcare system over the past three decades. It examines the evolution from the centralized Soviet Semashko model to an insurance-based system combining mandatory health insurance with state regulation and market mechanisms. The study analyzes the institutional structure, key reforms, strengths and weaknesses of the system, as well as major challenges affecting accessibility, financial sustainability, and regional disparities. The article also highlights the prospects for the development of Polish medicine and its relevance for comparative studies of post-socialist healthcare systems.