5. THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN POLAND
Read the text and fill in the missing prepositions.
Poland s health care system is public, financed mainly from health insurance
contributions collected 1 __________________ the National Health Fund (NFZ) and
from the national budget. Subsidized health services are provided 2 _____________
Polish residents that are covered by the general health insurance. This can be
either 3 __________________ a compulsory or a voluntary basis.
There are numerous hospitals, outpatient clinics, diagnostic labs, and
nursing homes run on the basis of contracts 4 ________________ the NFZ. They
provide services to insured people. Free medical services are provided to the
insured only 5 _________________ healthcare institutions, both public and private,
which have signed a contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ). A sick person
can consult a general practitioner or a specialist in an out-patient clinic, receive
hospital treatment and dental treatment, use ambulance and medical transport
services. Patents need a referral if they want to receive hospital treatment or see
a specialist except 6 _______________ gynecologists, dermatologists, oncologists,
ophthalmologists, psychiatrists and dental surgeons. In the event of a sudden illness
or accident, a patient can call 7 ______________ an ambulance or go directly to a
hospital emergency room. Also other EU citizens who stay in Poland temporarily
have the right to use these services. Such people are entitled 8 _______________
free health care on the basis of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In case of
lack of this document a patient is obliged to cover the cost of treatment himself.
The public health service in Poland is constantly facing the shortage of funds
 apart 9 ______________ health service establishments with ultramodern
equipment, Poland has poorly equipped clinics filled with poor retirees waiting in
long lines to see a doctor. As a result, well-off patients who do not want to wait for
treatment increasingly choose subscription medical services or private healthcare
services. By doing so the patients cannot use the contribution they obligatory pay
10 _______________ health insurance because private health funds do not exist in
Poland.
ROLEPLAY
Student A You work in the information office of the National Health Fund. A
foreigner comes in and wants to find out about the Polish healthcare system. Be
polite and give him/her detailed information.
Student B You came to Poland to stay with your girl/boyfriend for a couple of
months. Ask an information officer questions to find out how to get a medical help,
which specialists are available without a referral, how to get insurance, etc.
EXERCISE 1 Complete the dialogue.
Making a Doctor's Appointment
Doctor's Assistant: Good morning, Doctor Jensen's office. How 1) & & & & & & & & . I
help you?
Patient: Hello, I'd like to make an appointment to 2) & & & & & & & .. Doctor Jensen,
please.
Doctor's Assistant: Have you been in to see Doctor Jensen before?
Patient: Yes, I have. I had a physical last year.
Doctor's Assistant: Fine, what is your name?
Patient: This is Maria Sanchez.
Doctor's Assistant: Thank you Ms Sanchez, let me pull up your 3) & & & & & & & . .
Patient: I haven't been feeling very 4) & & & & & & & ... lately.
Doctor's Assistant: Do you need 5) & & & & & & & & .. care?
Patient: No, not necessarily, but I'd like to see the doctor soon.
Doctor's Assistant: Of course, how about next Monday? There's a slot 6)
& & & & & & & & & at 10 in the morning.
Patient: I'm afraid I'm working at 10. Is there anything available after three?
Doctor's Assistant: Let me see. Not on Monday, but we have a three o'clock
opening next Wednesday. Would you like to come 7) & & & & & & & & & . then?
Patient: Yes, next Wednesday at three would be great.
Doctor's Assistant: Alright, I'll 8) & & & & & & & & & & & . you in for three o'clock next
Wednesday.
Patient: Thank you for your help.
Doctor's Assistant: You re welcome. We'll see you next week. Goodbye.
Patient: Goodbye.
EXERCISE 2 Fill in the missing lines for the caller.
Receptionist: Doctor's office. Jane speaking. How can I help you?
1)
Caller:
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Receptionist: What's your name, please?
2)
Caller:
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Receptionist: Okay. Hold one moment while I grab your chart, please.
3)
Caller:
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Receptionist: Thanks for waiting. Now, what do you need to see the doctor about?
4) & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Caller:
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & .
Hmm. Doctor Harris is off tomorrow. Do you think it can wait until
Receptionist:
Wednesday?
5)
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Caller:
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Actually, we had a cancellation for 2:00 pm today if you can get
Receptionist:
away from the office.
Caller: 6) & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
We're running a bit behind schedule, so you can probably count on
Receptionist:
seeing the doctor around 2:30.
Caller: 7) & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
Receptionist: No problem. We'll see you in an hour or so.
LISTENING You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For question
1-8, choose the best answer A, B or C.
1 Listen to two people talking over a meal. Why doesn t the woman want
bread?
A She s trying to lose weight.
B She doesn t eat it with the food they re having.
C she s allergic to it.
2 You overhear a doctor talking to a woman in the emergency ward. What s the
matter with her child?
A He has broken a bone.
B He has hit his head.
C He has food poisoning.
3 You hear a man and woman discussing the man s visit to an acupuncturist.
Why did he go?
A for a general check-up
B to learn to relax
C to help him stop smoking
4 You hear a doctor talking on the radio. What is she describing?
A how to improve your digestion
B the best method of taking pills
C how different drinks affect your calorie intake
5 Listen to a conversation in a doctor s surgery. Why is the doctor annoyed with
the patient?
A She visits him unnecessarily.
B She is ungrateful for his help.
C She ignores his advice.
6 You hear a husband and wife talking. What feeling does the wife express?
A caution
B fear
C anger
7 You hear a radio report about the infectious disease, measles. What is the
conclusion?
A It is safer not to immunize children against measles.
B It is safer to immunize all children against measles.
C It makes no difference whether children are immunized or not.
8 Listen to a conversation between a boy and his sister. Why is he worried
about her?
A She studies too hard.
B She diets too much.
C She has an overactive imagination.