Although Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly stated that the government does not plan to raise the health insurance contribution, assuring that his ministers are looking for solutions that would reduce burdens on entrepreneurs, voices increasingly suggest that this may not succeed and the contribution will be raised. This unpopular decision may stem from calculations related to next year’s parliamentary elections. After the scandal at Warsaw’s South Hospital involving a former Civic Coalition representative and further irregularities coming to light, there are voices that if the health care situation cannot be improved, the Civic Coalition will lose power. For Donald Tusk’s government, this could cost more than entrepreneurs’ dissatisfaction with higher taxes.
Poles do not want an increase in the health insurance contribution
69.4% of Poles opposed the increase in the health insurance contribution according to a SW Research survey commissioned by "Rzeczpospolita". Only 13.7% of respondents support such a measure. 16.9% of respondents had no opinion on the matter.
Currently, employees working full‑time pay a health insurance contribution of 9% of their gross salary reduced by social security contributions. The same contribution rate applies to entrepreneurs who settle under general rules. For a flat tax, the contribution rate is 4.9%. However, it should be noted that the minimum health insurance contribution that such an entrepreneur must pay is 432.54 PLN in 2026. For those settling through a lump‑sum tax, the contribution ranges from 498.35 to 1,495.05 PLN depending on annual revenue.
Increasing this tax would provide additional funds for health care. According to the ministry, about 20 billion PLN may be needed for this purpose, despite the allocation of a record 247.8 billion PLN, which is 6.8% of GDP (public health spending). That is over 25.5 billion PLN more than in 2025.
6.8% of GDP on health care is still significantly less than in Western Europe.
OECD data show that total health spending in Poland is 8.1% of GDP, while the average for OECD countries is 9.3% of GDP, and in countries like Germany it is as high as 12.3% of GDP.
The EU average for public health spending is 10% of GDP, while in Poland it is the previously mentioned 6.8% of GDP.
A difficult task for the health minister
The way to improve the health care situation must be found by Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska‑Grenda, who received an ultimatum from Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The solution must be ready by Wednesday, July 8, 2026. If not? It seems the consequence could be her resignation from the government.
This is the result of the scandal at Warsaw’s South Hospital, which involved a former Civic Coalition politician. New irregularities continue to surface. Jolanta Sobierańska‑Grenda must find a solution to improve the financial situation in cooperation with the National Health Fund, as well as the number and quality of available services, and a way to regulate doctors’ salaries to prevent pathologies such as in the Warsaw hospital, where a 28‑year‑old doctor without specialization could earn almost 1.6 million PLN in a year.
Donald Tusk, looking at declining support, must fully realize that the health care system he promised to fix nearly three years ago, and since taking office, has failed to achieve much in this area, could jeopardize him and his party before the next parliamentary elections, which are already less than a year away. That is the time the government has to demonstrate competence and try to rebuild lost voter trust.
See also: Did Poles want such a change? Another scandal involving Civic Coalition politicians
