Espicom's in-depth medical device market reports are ideal for executives wanting to understand the key drivers in medical markets and have access to a wealth of statistical data. Each report opens with an outlook section that provides analysis of the market, 5-year market forecasts, national data projections, market outlook and key developments such as regulation, health facilities and government policy. The report also provides extensive background information, population trends, health status, health expenditure, organisation & administration, hospital services, medical personnel, healthcare development, market access information, trade data and essential industry contacts. Included with the report are 3 free quarterly updated outlook reports, enabling you to keep up to date with market developments for a year. The Polish healthcare system has been subject to many structural changes over the last decade. The government has continously struggled to provide a ‘free' high quality health service, due to a shortage of funds. The health insurance system was reformed in the late 1990s, causing confusion and serious disruption to services. Further reforms in 2003 eliminated some problems, such as regional differentials in the cost of treatment, but improvements to the quality of the health service have been slow due to financial difficulties. The salaries of medical staff remain low and the government is having to deal with the problem of specialised personnel leaving the country in search of better working conditions. Funding problems are expected to continue in the future. The rise of the healthcare contribution rate to 9.0% of earnings is likely to increase the volume of under-the-table payments.

Polish medical device legislation was amended in 2004. The prospect of EU accession prompted the Polish authorities to make legislation compliant with EU requirements. EU entry has affected the uptake of treatment in Poland. Polish citizens are able to travel more freely within the EU, providing them with better access to overseas treatment (on the condition that they have obtained authorisation from the National Health Fund to receive free treatment abroad). EU citizens also experience fewer problems in travelling to Poland for private medical treatment, which is cheaper than that available in Western European countries. Treatment costs are financed by the insurance company that the patient is registered with in their home country.

Many doctors are willing to treat foreigners and Polish hospitals are popular with German patients in particular, who wish to reduce the amount of time they must wait for an operation. Cardiological operations take place frequently on foreign patients in Poland, as hospitals have installed technology that enables communication between every hospital in Europe and Polish cardiologists. Doctors based in Western Europe can obtain the results of operations carried out in Poland and patients can seek advice from the physician with which they are registered at home. Consultations are also cheaper in Poland.

In 2007, the Polish market for medical equipment and supplies is estimated at US$41 per capita. This market size is double that of the Czech Republic; in per capita terms, the market is similar to Latvia. Around 80% of the market is supplied by imports.