WIM

Primary Healthcare Clinics (POZ) are clinics operating within the public health service under a contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ). These clinics are staffed by specialists commonly referred to as primary care physicians or family doctors. They provide general medical care to patients of all ages.

A general practitioner (GP) diagnoses, treats, and prevents the most common conditions. Their duties include:

• providing medical advice in an outpatient setting,
• referral for basic diagnostic tests or treatments,
• referral to specialists, hospital or spa treatment,
• prescribing medications,
• issuing sick leave certificates,
• issuing certificates and decisions on health status,
• children's balance tests,
• qualification for sanitary transport,
• conducting preventive activities and health education.

Thanks to comprehensive medical knowledge, a general practitioner is able to recognize and treat most common diseases and, if necessary, refer the patient to the appropriate specialist.

Your primary care physician can issue a referral for a wide range of free diagnostic tests if deemed medically necessary. The most frequently ordered include:

• hematological tests (e.g. peripheral blood count)
• biochemical and immunochemical tests (e.g. measurement of glucose concentration, electrolytes, cholesterol, etc.)
• urine and stool tests
• coagulation system tests
• imaging tests (ultrasound, X-ray)

The decision to refer a patient for a specific examination always rests with the doctor.

To be able to use Primary Health Care (PHC) services, you should:

• have health insurance under the National Health Fund (NFZ)
• complete a declaration to the doctor, nurse, midwife required by the National Health Fund.

To confirm your right to health benefits based on your age:

• Adult: During registration, provide your PESEL number and show one of the documents: ID card, passport or driving license.
• Baby up to 3 months of age: in the case of a child who is under 3 months old and does not have a PESEL number, provide your PESEL number when registering.
• Child up to 18 years of age: school-age children – up to 18 years of age, should have a valid school ID.

What to do if the National Health Fund has not confirmed your entitlement to health services?

If during registration you receive information that the National Health Fund has not confirmed your entitlement to benefits, and you know that you are entitled to them, you can confirm it by presenting paper documents, such as: a certificate from your employer, a pensioner's or disability pensioner's ID card, or a current health insurance application.

If you don't have these documents, you can submit a declaration of your entitlement to benefits. This declaration should include: the patient's name and surname, residential address, legal basis for benefits (e.g., employment contract, pension), PESEL number, and the type of document used to confirm your identity at the doctor's office.