[lobo221]

The Polish government will offer free medication for senior citizens over 75 years of age and plans to implement the solution at the latest by September 1, 2016, according to a draft amendment to public-funded healthcare services legislation adopted by the cabinet on Tuesday.

The government expects the program will cost some PLN 500 million annually, Cabinet Minister Henryk Kowalczyk said in an interview for radio broadcaster TOK FM.

The program will cost "some PLN 500 million annually," Kowalczyk said, referring to estimates of the Health Minister.

The solution will only cover drugs included in a special list to be drawn up by the Health Ministry, a statement from the cabinet's press office reads.

The government has to prepare such a list rather than offer all medicines for seniors for free as it does not have a system which would prevent potential abuses, Kowalczyk said.

The government plans to implement the solution at the latest by September 1, 2016.

The solution was one of the flagship campaign promises of the governing party PiS.

Source

[a175]

That's not too shabby.
That's about $3.37 per person annually.
PLN 500m is a little under USD 128m, the Polish population is a bit more than 38m. Even if only half paid, it's still only $8.

[lobo221]

There is 2.7m people in poland that are 75+ year old so it's about 50$ each... that is a lot of money for many old people, becouse many of them are getting about 400-450$ every month.
So it's 1 more medicine for them every month - but the free pills for seniors will be added with many more medicines when the list will be updated so even if they would have get 1 dollar worth of pills every month - it's 100% more than PO (platforma obywatelska) did for them for last 8 years.

[icheerthebull]

What's the retirement age in Poland?

[lobo221]

67 years old - but the government want to change this for 65 for men and 60 for women like it was before PO (platforma obywatelska = thieves and traitors of polish people).

[icheerthebull]

Isn't a younger retirement age a good thing?

[Sharon]

You get them free here in the UK if you're over 65

Some people are entitled to free prescriptions because of their age, income or medical condition. You are eligible for free NHS prescriptions if you:
- are aged 60 or over
- are aged under 16
- are aged 16 to 18 and in full-time education
have a medical exemption certificate because your condition is on the list, you or your partner are on Income Support, or you can qualify via other benefits or tax credits

[b0g]

approving a younger retirement age law is strange for a right wing govmtn
it's cursing in the church
but they're autocrats I heard and they reign by majort

[b0g]

most of m will be + at 80-84

like Varoufakis says: it giving cortisones to cancer patients