The announcement came during a presidential health summit, Rescuing Healthcare, in Warsaw on Friday.
The new law comes as Poland’s healthcare system struggles with a growing financial deficit.
Hospitals have reported delays in payments from the NFZ, leading to postponed treatments and referrals.
According to estimates, the NFZ will face a deficit of around PLN 23 billion (EUR 5.44 billion) next year.
Nawrocki said the law was necessary to prevent further shortfalls in vital healthcare areas.
"Without this regulation, funding for patients could have fallen by more than PLN 7.5 billion (EUR 1.77 billion)," he warned during the event at the presidential palace.
At the summit, Nawrocki voiced concern over government plans to reintroduce service limits and reduce reimbursements for imaging tests, cataract surgeries and specialist visits.
He warned that these measures could lead to longer waiting times for patients and criticised proposals to cut PLN 600 million (142 EUR million) from district hospitals.
Nawrocki also expressed unease about potential restrictions on free medications for children, pregnant women and people over 60.
Under the amendment, two sub-funds will be established within the Medical Fund: one targeting healthcare infrastructure and another for rare childhood diseases.
The law combines elements from both the government’s and the president’s proposals.
While the NFZ will receive immediate funding relief, the measure also limits the government’s ability to divert Medical Fund resources in the future.
Experts warn that using the Medical Fund to cover the NFZ’s everyday expenses risks diverting resources from its original purpose – supporting rare diseases, child healthcare and medical infrastructure.
They caution that while the PLN 3.6 billion allocation addresses short-term gaps, it does not solve the long-standing structural challenges in Poland’s healthcare system.
In recent days, a separate government summit, Safe Patient, highlighted similar concerns, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressing that while healthcare funding is increasing, resources must be used efficiently.
Meanwhile, patient organisations have called for a clear strategy to address the chronic underfunding of hospitals and specialised treatment programmes.
(ał)
Source: IAR, PAP