Energy carriers increased by approx. 40%, food prices by over 17%, generally, the prices of consumer goods and services in August 2022 increased year-on-year by 16.1%, and compared to the previous month, prices increased by 0.8% – reported the Statistics Poland (GUS). Inflation results correlate with the PMR report, which shows that the increase in prices in the private healthcare sector in 2022, compared to 2021, will amount to approx. 14%.
According to the report, the increase in prices in the coming years will oscillate around 7% YoY every year and will last until 2027. According to the PMR report “Rynek prywatnej opieki zdrowotnej w Polsce 2022. Analiza rynku i prognozy rozwoju na lata 2022-2027”, the increase in prices is one of the main challenges for the private healthcare market in Poland.
The survey authors call this growth “strong”, which – according to PMR – on the one hand, will affect the nominal increase in the value of this market but it will also reduce its real dynamics. This will influence the decisions of Poles who may decide to limit some private appointments for which they pay out of their own pockets. “On the other hand, it may result in more interest in medical subscriptions and private health insurance”, adds Justyna Zagórska, senior analyst of the pharmaceutical and healthcare market at PMR and the author of the above-mentioned report.
PMR reported also that, according to its survey, patients using private medical services paid for on-site have already felt an increase in market prices. Dental care and rehabilitation are the areas where the average amounts spent by Poles per visit in 2021 increased the most. The PMR price change index for dental services was over 62% and for rehabilitation services – 59%. The internist appointments turned out to be the most resistant to price increases, although in this case, the index was also high and amounted to 44%.
“PMR forecasts indicate that the salaries of medical staff will grow significantly faster than the total salaries in Poland. This will result in higher prices of services”, the report reads.
This is another year in which both medical facilities and patients have to deal with problems. Due to the outbreak of the pandemic and the introduction of restrictions, the private healthcare market fell by 6.3% (EUR 12.4 billion). During the pandemic, the segment of appointments paid for on-site was affected the most by regression. It was associated with the fear of coming personally to a medical facility and resignation from starting diagnostics or treatment. The services affected the most since 2020 include dental services, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation.
Health investments
Can we find a way to cope with galloping inflation? Yes – by choosing reasonable, thoughtful and safe medical insurance which guarantees free access not just to one but to all medical facilities and, additionally, which is resistant to significant price increases. MediSky International has increased the prices of its services by less than 3% in the last two years. It is a phenomenon not only in Poland but also in Europe. The main factor of such an approach is that the insurance policy gives a sense of security to everyone who purchased it. MediSky guarantees access to all medical facilities and the best specialists around the world. Without queues and unnecessary formalities. It is possible to make appointments to doctors of all specialisations who are licensed to practice and issue a bill or invoice for their services. The policy includes also physiotherapists, dentists (selected packages), psychologists and psychiatrists. Fortunately for MediSky clients, solutions, standards and high quality of the offered services will remain at the highest level and health, as the greatest value, will be a priority not subject to inflation.
