title: The privatization of spa companies in Poland - An evaluation of policy assumptions and implementation.
abstract: The aim of this article is to present the course of privatization of spa companies in Poland during the period 2001-2011. We discuss assumptions of the privatization process, as well as actual implementation, having identified the process as chaotic and inconsistent with prior legal provisions. We found that in its applied form the process resulted in limitation of the therapeutic potential of spas, and reduction of the State's ability to implement health policy in a legally determined form. We also found that privatization potentially improved spa infrastructure standards and increases the tourist potential of spa resorts. We recommend that clear eligibility criteria are applied to institutions in the privatization process, as well as the provision of legal guarantees for access to spa services financed from public resources. Such guarantees should be made a public obligation, to ensure the availability of services for insured persons, and there should be an obligation to maintain a specific part of a given institution's potential for the needs of patients funded by public health insurance.
authors.affiliation: Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Faculty of Organization and Management in Zabrze, ul. Roosevelta 26-28, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland. Electronic address: szromek@polsl.pl.
authors.forename: Adam R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Szromek
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, School of Public Health in Bytom, Department of Health Policy, 18 Piekarska Street (ul. Piekarska 18), 41-902 Bytom, Poland. Electronic address: promaniuk@sum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romaniuk
authors.affiliation: Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, School of Physical Education, Department of Sport and Tourism, Mikołowska 72A, 40-065 Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: andrzej_hadzik@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadzik
mesh_terms: D001452:Balneology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006291:Health Policy; D006294:Health Resorts / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011044:Poland; D011332:Privatization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters
keywords: Health resort; Privatization, Poland; Spa services