The appraisal of the situation of the palliative care in Poland in 2011

Palliative care, following WHO definition, is an overall approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the progressive life-threatening illness. There is not available a universal model of palliative care yet that would be implemented in different countries. Based on the analyses prepared for the European Parliament as wells as Atlas of Palliative Care in Europe, Poland is ranked fifth in palliative care development (2006). The aim of the study was the appraisal of the situation of palliative care in Poland in 2011 through estimation of the overall number of palliative care units and detailing the number of units providing services contracted by the National Health Fund; estimation of expenses on palliative care in 2011 with distribution per voivodeships (regions); estimation of value of contract per capita in particular voivodeships and estimation of expenses on stationary units, ambulatory care and home care. The analysis was done based on numerical data from regional departments of the National Health Fund, as well as the questionnaires completed by the regional consultants. There has been observed diversity of numbers of units and their structure in particular voivodeships, diversity of expenses for particular services per inhabitant in regions, as wells as very small amount of services contracted in form of ambulatory and stationary care.