Thousands of unfulfilled referrals to sanatoriums. The Ministry of Health is preparing changes

According to WP Finanse, in the first six months of 2026, as many as 11,900 referrals for spa treatment were not implemented.

This represented almost 5.5 percent of all contracted services during this period. The financial losses incurred by health resort facilities exceeded PLN 75.5 million - more than in the entire years of 2025 and 2024. For comparison, in 2025 the value of unrealized benefits amounted to over PLN 52.5 million, and a year earlier - PLN 55.7 million.

Experts emphasize that not every zloty of this amount is a final loss. Some unused places may be settled or transferred to subsequent dates. However, the problem is growing, and the number of people canceling their trip without notice is increasing every year.

Why do patients give up going to sanatoriums?

The reasons why patients do not show up for stays are very diverse. Some people expect a specific location - preferably by the sea, in the company of a loved one or at a convenient holiday time. Others give up due to difficulties with commuting, family responsibilities, the need to care for loved ones or financial problems.

Winter dates are also not popular. Patients are afraid of leaving their home without heating, difficult road conditions, short days and an increased risk of illness. It also happens that patients have already planned trips abroad or simply have not received correspondence from the National Health Fund.

Each unused place in a sanatorium is not only a financial loss, but also a real problem for other patients. People waiting in long queues for spa treatment lose the chance to leave quickly. For health resorts, it is also a huge difficulty in planning the work of staff, organizing stays and effectively using available rooms.

The Ministry of Health is preparing changes

The Ministry of Health is currently analyzing various solutions to reduce the scale of the problem. The most radical proposal assumes the introduction of a 12-month grace period for patients who do not show up for the stay and do not inform the National Health Fund about it in advance. This would mean that they could receive another referral only after one year from the end of the unused stay.

For now, these regulations are not in force - the ministry is waiting for the position of the National Health Fund, which has not yet issued an official opinion. It is also not known when any changes could come into force.

The proposed changes are not limited to the one-year grace period. Consideration is also being given to introducing an obligation to provide a current telephone number and e-mail address in the referral. This would make it easier for health resorts to contact patients and remind them about their upcoming stay.

The facilities would send a reminder 30 days before the start of treatment, and the patient would have to confirm his arrival no later than 21 days before the date. This would allow the vacant place to be transferred more quickly to a person from the reserve list.