title: Health sector structures: the case of Poland.
abstract: A 'portrait' of the health system in Poland is presented in the context of Polish historical, political, cultural and socio-economical developments. As a sensitive indicator of overall societal functioning, the health system suffers from the grave systemic pathologies which are reflected in petrified, rigid structures, a continuous underfinancing and underinvestment, and a lack of adequate information. It is argued that: several problems of the Polish health system are characteristic of industrialized countries; the National Health Care in Poland bears more responsibilities than the National Health Care in Britain; the Polish health system deserves special appreciation for its desperate coping in the most difficult situation.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006268:Health Facilities; D006291:Health Policy; D006298:Health Services Administration; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011044:Poland; D013222:State Medicine; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology