ByadminMedical care for Ukrainian refugees – how is everything organized?
From the very beginning of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the National Health Fund of Poland took over the financing of medical care for Ukrainian refugees. The right to receive free medical care applies to Ukrainians who have crossed the border since February 24, 2022.
The special law on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict entered into force on March 12, 2022, but its effect began on February 24, 2022. This special act grants the right to medical services to citizens of Ukraine who came to Poland in connection with the Russian aggression.
The right to receive medical services by refugees in the specified volume is confirmed by the following documents:
- a PESEL tax number issued to citizens of Ukraine
- an e-document (adults who register with the city administration receive a PESEL number and a trusted profile, can activate the e-document confirming the rights of a refugee)
- a printout of a confirmation of the creation of a trusted profile, which contains the first and last name, the PESEL number)
The following persons have the right to medical care in the above-mentioned volume:
- citizens of Ukraine who have directly crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border since February 24
- spouses of citizens of Ukraine, without Ukrainian citizenship, who have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border since February 24
- citizens of Ukraine with a Pole’s Card, regardless of where they crossed the Polish border after February 24
- immediate relatives of a citizen of Ukraine with a Pole’s Card who have entered Poland on February 24, 2022
The concept of “immediate relatives” includes: spouse, ascendants (parents, grandparents), descendants (children, grandchildren), brothers and sisters, relatives in the same line or degree (son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, stepson), adopted child and their spouse, as well as a person living together.
The right to receive medical care following a special law is not granted to persons who, before February 24, 2022, legally resided in Poland based on a residence permit or had refugee status, or applied for such status.
Funding for health services for refugees is provided by the National Health Fund of Poland. Services are paid for by the medical institution that has concluded an appropriate contract with the Fund.
Refugees from Ukraine are entitled to receive medical services in Poland under the same conditions and to the same extent as persons insured in Poland, namely:
- family doctor assistance
- outpatient consultation with a specialist physician
- medical assistance at night and on public holidays
- inpatient care
In terms of the above-mentioned information, patients can receive medical consultation, laboratory and instrumental examinations, prescriptions and appointments. Everything is free of charge!
The exception is:
- health-resort treatment
- resort rehabilitation
- right to treatment abroad
- reimbursement of expenses for treatment abroad following the “transboundary” directive
Refugees are entitled to receive medicines under the health programs of the Ministry of Health. This, for example, medicine used as part of emergency medical care. Refugees are also entitled to COVID-19 vaccination, coronavirus tests (antigenic and PCR), and COVID-19 related treatment. Refugee children are entitled to preventive vaccinations as part of the immunization schedule.
And here is one more important point. Ukrainian refugees are entitled to receive prescriptions that provide reimbursement for the cost of medicines. On March 14, 2022, family medicine outpatient clinics, specialized polyclinics and pharmacies received relevant clarifications from the Fund.
