Od Drugiej Rzeczypospolitej do Polski Ludowej. Ewolucja systemu ochrony zdrowia w Polsce w latach 1944–1950
From the Second Polish Republic to the People’s Poland. The evolution of the health care system in Poland in the years 1944–1950

Summary/Abstract: First years after the Second World War were very difficult for the health care in Poland. The end of German occupation brought a wide range of challenges. They resulted from war damage, a significant loss of medical staff and a large scale of health risks. One of important goals of the health policy was to create the public health service available to all citizens. Initially, the restoration of the health care system was based on the model created in the interwar period. With time, along with political changes taking place in Poland, the transformation of the system began to adapt it to the centrally planned economy. The main part of this process ended in 1950. The new system was compatible with the Soviet model and was based on central and directive management which included all elements of the so-called “social health service”. The private medical practice was pushed to the margin and insurance health service was taken over by the state. The system built after the war, however, was still not widespread. Most of the rural population, which represented nearly half of the country`s population, were deprived of equal access to health care.

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