D6.9 - Report on stakeholders' views on the effects of payment mechanisms (analysis of in-depth interviews)

This document presents Deliverable D6.9: the report analyzing stakeholders' views on the effects of payment mechanisms in the Polish healthcare system. The study is part of Work Package 6, which focuses on incentives for efficiency and quality in healthcare. The research methodology involved two main stages: Focus Group conducted on December 16, 2024, with eleven participants from the National Health Fund and the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariffication, hospitals and academia. In-Depth Interviews: conducted between March and May 2025, involving ten experts, including hospital managers and representatives from the National Health Fund and the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariffication. The transcripts from the stakeholder meeting and interviews were used as a basis for PESTEL analysis. This analysis was conducted to categorize external factors influencing the healthcare system: Political Factors: The necessity of political will and decision-making to implement changes in funding mechanisms. Economic Factors: The impact of the state’s economic potential on healthcare funding and the rising costs of medical staff. Social Factors: The challenges posed by an ageing population and increased patient awareness. Technological Factors: The need for rapid adaptation to new medical technologies and their integration into funding models. Environmental: pro-environmental attitudes and investment in alternative energy sources. Legal Factors: The slow pace of legislative changes affecting the implementation of new funding mechanisms. The findings from the collected data and the analysis show that while the DRG system was intended to enhance efficiency, its implementation has led to several unintended consequences, necessitating a reevaluation of the payment mechanisms in place to ensure they align with the healthcare needs of the population.