ABSTRACT
The political and economic process of structural transition in Poland has left the existing structure of the social protection systems unchanged and facing growing crisis. Since 1989, a year of radical political change from the Communist system to restoration of the chance of democratic development, a series of coalition governments has been unable to reach a political consensus for reform. Lack of a premium-based, stable source of finance makes the health care system very vulnerable to the current situation of the state budget and to prevailing political forces. Delaying a political decision concerning reform of the health care system has resulted in an increasing lack of consistent rules governing the system. Lack of a political decision on health care system reform has had the consequence that major shortcomings of the system, such as lack of a stable funding source and lack of consistent rules, have increased.
