Are you sick in Poland? Where to go, what number to call, and how much it costs – you will read about it and more

Health is very important for everyone, but its condition is often unpredictable. You came to Poland, live and work here, when suddenly you feel unwell, whether it is due to the flu or a more serious illness. The situation becomes more alarming because you are in a different country and you do not know where and to whom to turn for help.

In our company – Spartajobs, we are responsible for you and we care to ensure that in case of poor health, we help our employees to know where and to whom to turn for help.

Now let’s move on to the different options for medical care for a patient in Poland.

Calling an ambulance

You can call an ambulance by dialing two numbers: 112 and 999. The main argument for calling for medical help is a critical health condition. The degree of criticality is determined by the dispatcher, who decides whether to send a medical team to you or not.

The most common reasons why an ambulance can come are:

  • loss of consciousness
  • heart attack
  • seizures
  • serious fractures in which the patient is unable to move independently
  • severe bleeding

What to tell the dispatcher when calling an ambulance?

  • patient’s data
  • symptoms
  • place of residence

Pay attention to the second point – symptoms – it is important to describe them in as much detail as possible, as this will determine whether an ambulance will come or not. In the event of a false call, a fine of PLN 500 to PLN 1,500 may be imposed, but it should be remembered that this amount may be higher.

When asked for documents, provide “Polish documents” because any document issued in Poland is more transparent for medical services than a Ukrainian passport.

If the medical staff determines that hospitalization of the patient is not necessary, they will leave him where he is, which means that the ambulance is not a taxi, it will not take you home or to any other place.

If the emergency staff determines that hospitalization is necessary and a relative of the patient wants to accompany him, he will not be able to do so in the ambulance – they will have to call a taxi or use another available means of transportation.

The cost of calling an ambulance depends on many factors, however, if a Ukrainian works legally, he should have insurance and medical services are then free of charge.

Visiting a doctor on our own, i.e. we report to the clinic, outpatient clinic

Here too, having a health insurance policy plays an important role. It usually covers most of the costs associated with visiting a doctor and undergoing medical procedures.

As an example of prices for services when the insurance policy is not issued:

  • visit to a general practitioner – PLN 100-300
  • specialist – PLN 200-900
  • tests – PLN 100+ for each test

An insured person has the right to choose a health center and change it or the doctor for free up to 2 times a year. An additional change will cost PLN 80.

To avoid additional costs associated with changing doctors, we recommend:

  • choose a clinic and a doctor close to your place of residence, so that you can get there even if you feel unwell
  • get advance information about the list of services and specialists**

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are sick in Poland, you should first contact your general practitioner. If your condition is serious, you should call an ambulance. In both cases, it is important to have a health insurance policy, as it will cover most of the costs associated with medical care.

Here are some additional tips for getting medical care in Poland:

  • If you are not fluent in Polish, you can ask a friend or family member to accompany you to the doctor’s office or to translate for you.
  • Many hospitals and clinics have English-speaking staff.
  • You can also find a list of English-speaking doctors and clinics online.