Some six million Poles could be left without access to their outpatient clinics as of Jan. 2 as one of the doctors' trade unions covering some 20% of clinics has so far refused to sign contracts with the National Health Fund (NFZ).

Patients whose doctors failed to sign contracts with NFZ should go to outpatient clinics who signed such contracts or to hospitals or night care centers, Health Minister Bartosz Arlukowicz said. The latter will receive some PLN 45 for medical advice, which is nearly the same amount that so far has been paid to GPs for six months' care per patient.

However, the contingency plan will fail in places where most doctors failed to sign new contracts. Doctors refuse to sign new contracts in relation to the implementation of the oncological package. Doctors seek more money for new responsibilities than offered by the Health Ministry.