Republic of Poland

Since 2003 there is one single health insurance company in Poland, the National Health Fund. This is a compulsory insurance for all citizens. Employees pay 8 per cent of their income as a contribution.

In case of the unemployed or pensioners, the contributions are transferred to the insurance company by the respective welfare authorities. Self-employed persons are charged according to their income, but have to pay at least some 400 Euro (270 Pounds) per month.

• Inhabitants: 38.6 million
• GDP: 205 billion Euro (140 billion Pounds)
• Unemployment rate: 20.0 per cent
• Labour force participation rate: 54.5 per cent
• Proportion of health costs of the GDP (2001): 6.3 per cent
• Number of doctors (2001): 224 for each 100,000 inhabitants
• Number of hospital beds (2001): 487 for each 100,000 inhabitants
• Rate of insured persons: 100 per cent
• Employees in the health sector (2000): 612,000

Map of Poland