Medical Device Financing in Central and Eastern Europe: What Can Poland Learn from Its Neighbours? Summary of the Third Block of the 'MedTech: The Foundation of Health Security’ Conference

How can patient access to innovative medical devices be improved while ensuring sustainable financing systems? These questions were at the centre of the panel entitled „European Perspective of the Medical Devices Industry”, held during the third block of The Polish Chamber of Commerce of Medical Devices POLMED Conference „MedTech: The Foundation of Health Security”.

The discussion was based on the report „Overview of Medical Device Reimbursement Systems in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)”, prepared by the Coalition of CEE Medical Device National Associations. The panel brought together representatives of the medical technology sector from Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Croatia, as well as Polish experts from public administration, patient organisations and the medical devices industry. The session was moderated by Mateusz Mądry (DZP).

Regional Challenges: Underfunding and Delayed Access to Innovation

Presenting the report, Dr Mateusz Mądry emphasised that despite organisational differences, countries across Central and Eastern Europe face remarkably similar challenges.

„Patients can benefit from medical devices only when the system is properly prepared to support them. We need stable public financing, predictable reimbursement rules, faster pathways for innovation and a lower financial burden on patients,” the moderator concluded.

The report identified several common issues, including insufficient funding, a high share of out-of-pocket spending and the lack of transparent and harmonised pathways for introducing innovative medical devices into healthcare systems.

Croatia’s Special Fund for High-Cost Technologies

One of the most interesting examples discussed was the Croatian model, based on a Special Fund for High-Cost Medical Devices.

Jurica Toth, Member of the Board of CROMED, stressed that this solution has significantly improved patient access to advanced therapies.

„The extra expensive device fund has brought significant benefits both to patients and to the medical technology industry in Croatia. Devices such as TAVI, deep brain stimulation systems and oncological prostheses are financed above the DRG level, ensuring proper access to advanced therapies,” he explained.

Centralised procurement conducted by the Ministry of Health was also highlighted as an important mechanism ensuring price transparency and equal access to technology regardless of hospital size.

Stability and Predictability in Bulgaria

Tsveta Yotsova, Chairwoman of MedTech Bulgaria, pointed out that political instability in recent years has complicated long-term healthcare reforms. In her view, predictability remains essential for the medical devices sector.

„Stability and predictability are crucial. The medical devices list is updated once a year, which allows market participants to plan ahead, even if the process itself remains relatively slow,” she noted.

She also underlined that more formalised health technology assessment procedures can improve transparency, provided that they do not create additional barriers to innovation.

Transparency in Slovakia and the Czech Republic

According to Vladimir Micieta, President of SK+MED, transparency is the greatest strength of the Slovak system.

„Transparency creates a clear environment. It allows us to see which products enter the market, which applications are submitted and how financing mechanisms work, providing valuable information for better planning and development,” he said.

Miroslav Palat, President of CzechMed, also praised the stability of financing mechanisms while warning against excessive administrative burdens.

„Suppliers still face unnecessary administrative procedures and barriers to market entry. There is a risk that new regulations could make the system even more complicated,” he stated.

Romania Invests in Robotic Surgery

Romania presented an example of supporting innovation through dedicated financing mechanisms for robotic surgery in public hospitals.

Paul Radu, Vice-President of AFPM, explained that this solution was developed through close cooperation between industry associations and public authorities.

„The Ministry of Health decided to finance consumables, maintenance and servicing for robotic systems. The objective is to ensure that advanced technologies remain available in public hospitals, not only in private ones,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of European funding for healthcare development and called for health to remain a strategic priority in future EU financial frameworks.

Medical Devices as Part of Rehabilitation

Robert Jagodziński, President of the Active Rehabilitation Foundation (FAR), presented the patient perspective, stressing that medical devices have a direct impact not only on treatment outcomes but also on quality of life.

„The best medical device should be part of rehabilitation from the very beginning, and patients should leave hospital equipped with solutions that enable them to regain independence and participate fully in society,” he noted.

He also referred to recent developments, including broader reimbursement lists, additional wheelchair categories and the digitalisation of the prescription approval process.

The Ministry of Health Announces Broader Reforms

One of the key moments of the discussion was the statement by Mateusz Oczkowski, Director of the Department of Drug Policy and Pharmacy at the Ministry of Health.

„Medical devices deserve a broader legislative reform. The end of 2026 may mark the beginning of comprehensive work on this market, including reimbursed devices, prescribed products and digital solutions,” he announced.

He also stressed that Poland should learn from successful practices implemented in neighbouring countries.

Accelerating Innovation Uptake

Joanna Miros, Member of the Board of POLMED, emphasised the need to accelerate the introduction of new technologies.

„Product life cycles are becoming shorter, while our system is lagging behind. We must look not only at immediate costs but also at the overall value that technology brings to patient care,” she argued.

She cited the cervical cancer screening programme as an example of effective cooperation between public authorities, patient organisations and industry.

A New Pathway for Innovative Medical Devices

Katarzyna Kędzior, Head of the Healthcare Services Standardisation Department at AOTMiT, referred to recommendations concerning innovative, particularly digital, medical devices.

„One proposed solution is conditional financing for 12, 24 or 36 months, combined with risk-sharing mechanisms between the public payer and manufacturers,” she explained.

She added that Poland could draw on experiences from countries such as Germany and France while avoiding some of the challenges they encountered during implementation.

Health Security is National Security

The conference was formally closed by Wiesław Szczepański, Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, who emphasised that health security is one of the pillars of national security.

„There is no secure state without health security. Every patient needs access to healthcare, quality equipment, modern technologies and well-trained medical personnel,” he said.

He also stressed that the current geopolitical situation requires healthcare systems to be prepared for crisis scenarios and highlighted the role of advanced technologies, including robotic and remote surgery, in strengthening resilience.

Dialogue as the Foundation for Change

Summarising the discussion, Arkadiusz Grądkowski, President of POLMED, underlined the importance of cooperation between public administration, experts, patient organisations and industry.

„The most important thing is our ability to work together and develop solutions collectively. The results of this cooperation must be visible both within public institutions and across the market, because we all share responsibility for access to healthcare and the development of the system,” he concluded.

The panel demonstrated that while CEE countries apply different financing models, they face many common challenges. Their experiences can provide valuable inspiration for future reforms aimed at improving access to innovative medical technologies in Poland.

Report Available for Download

The third conference block also marked the official launch of the report „Overview of Medical Device Reimbursement Systems in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)”, prepared by the Coalition of CEE Medical Device National Associations.

The publication compares reimbursement and financing systems in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, highlighting both best practices and shared regional challenges related to patient access to innovation.

The report is available [HERE].