There’s an old saying often overlooked in modern healthcare: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Poland is now putting this wisdom into practice with an ambitious, government-backed program called Moje Zdrowie (My Health), designed to deliver broad-spectrum preventative healthcare to its younger population—for free.
This 20-year initiative is a landmark move in European healthcare. Targeting citizens between ages 20 and 40, Moje Zdrowie offers a basic medical screening package every five years, including blood work, glucose levels, creatinine, lipid profile, thyroid hormone levels, and urinalysis. These tests are accompanied by a questionnaire covering medical and family history, lifestyle factors, and mental health indicators. The goal is simple: catch diseases or pre-disease conditions early, before they spiral into costly, life-threatening health problems.
“For decades, we have been accustomed to periodic preventive examinations of children and adolescents,” said Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna when she unveiled the program. “Very often, however, adults forget to take the same care of themselves. That is why we are introducing regular health checkups for adults—to help build the habit of routine screenings and encourage people to take better care of their own health.”
The program’s design is not just about routine checkups—it’s about instilling a preventative mindset. Chronic diseases such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypothyroidism cost national health systems hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient over a lifetime. Yet, medical research, particularly in the field of oncology, consistently shows that early detection significantly improves survival rates and reduces treatment costs. As Leszczyna pointed out, encouraging people to engage with their health proactively is a critical step toward national wellness.
According to Notes from Poland, the initiative has been warmly received by healthcare professionals, who have long noted that previous preventive programs fell short, especially when it came to ensuring patients followed up on test results and medical advice. By making these screenings free and widely available, the government hopes to overcome those earlier barriers and increase patient engagement.
However, Poland faces structural challenges. The country currently has a shortage of nurses and support staff, with only 6.3 nurses per 100,000 inhabitants—nearly three fewer than the OECD average. While the number of doctors currently meets European standards, within the next 15 years many of these physicians will reach retirement age, threatening the long-term sustainability of healthcare delivery. This staffing shortfall comes at a time when Poland’s healthcare system is under increased pressure: the country is seeing record-high engagement with the medical system, even as it spends roughly 4% less on medical infrastructure compared to the European Union average.
Despite these challenges, the Moje Zdrowie program represents a forward-looking approach. By focusing on prevention rather than costly intervention, Poland is aiming to save millions of euros and countless lives in the coming decades. A simple yet comprehensive battery of tests, paired with a risk-factor questionnaire, can identify individuals at high risk of developing chronic diseases, allowing for timely interventions that benefit both the individual and society at large.
This program marks a cultural and institutional shift in how Poland views healthcare—not just as a system for treating the sick, but as a proactive network aimed at preserving health and wellness across the population. By institutionalizing prevention, Poland is not only investing in its healthcare system but also in the future well-being of its people. If successful, Moje Zdrowie could serve as a model for other nations looking to improve healthcare outcomes without drastically increasing costs.
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