– I still think that a gas station is not a place where you should buy alcohol – Isabelle Leshchyna, the Minister of Health of the country, said in the “Bez kitu” program. Despite previous announcements, the government has not imposed restrictions on the sale of alcohol at gas stations. The Minister of Health stated that “it is difficult to advance a bill that does not receive the vote of the ruling coalition.” Leshchyna also spoke about the law he is introducing, among others: age verification when buying alcohol and lengthening queues at doctors.
Last year, the Minister of Health announced the introduction of restrictions on the sale of alcohol, etc. at gas stations. No regulations on this issue have come into force yet.
– I still think that a gas station is definitely not a place where you should buy alcohol, and the Minister of Health will not change his mind, – said Izabela Leshchina in the “Bez kitu” program. As he noted, “the government consists not only of the Minister of Health”, but also of other ministers who “believe that this will create an inequality between economic entities”. – It is difficult to present a bill that you know you will not have the support and vote of the governing coalition, – he added.
Price promotions for alcohol and online sales
The minister of health said that “the document that imposes certain restrictions (on the sale of alcohol – ed.) will come into force”. At the same time, the act is submitted for public discussion. – In this act, it is primarily about the fact that the seller is obliged to check the identity card, if there is any suspicion that he has not reached the age of 18, – said Leshchyna. He emphasized that “this commitment is being investigated by various services.” He cited the trade inspection as an example.
In addition, this act also introduces new regulations on the sale of alcohol on the Internet. – We will also change this regulation. To buy alcohol, you must prove you are of legal age, the minister said. Age verification should be similar to “login to bank or mObywatela”.
Izabela Leshchyna emphasized that the government also addressed the issue of increasing the price of alcohol. – We entered the store, there are two bottles of alcohol, there is a sign saying that if you buy two, you will get a cheaper price. In my opinion, this is advertising that is prohibited, said the head of the Ministry of Health. He added that he wanted to “clarify the provision that such advertising is prohibited.”
Queues for specialist doctors. Leshchina: I am not satisfied with the current situation
The Minister of Health also talked about the queue for specialist doctors. – It is true that there are specialties for which we have to wait longer, but there are also those whose queues have been shortened, – said Leshchyna. But he emphasized that he is “not satisfied with the current situation”.
He recalled that “his predecessors abolished the restrictions on ambulatory care, that is, for all specialists.” – Meanwhile, the queue (…) got longer. What does this mean? This means that we have a pathological phenomenon, he said.
Leshchyna explained that according to the analysis in the clinics funded by the National Health Fund, patients turn to specialists too much. – It often happens that so-called first-time patients, that is, those who (…) come for the first time in two years, for example, make up 10 percent, – he said.
He also announced that from the second quarter of 2025 the introduction of a “certain recession principle”. It is used to calculate the median of the so-called patients. for the first time across Poland and comparing it with statistics in individual clinics. – All those who reach this medium are supposedly safe. For those below us, we say: you have three months to increase the number of first-time patients. If you don’t increase (…), you get less for each patient visit – she explained.
According to the ministry, this decision is intended to shorten the waiting list of doctors, as clinics often refer patients to primary care physicians or directly to hospitals after diagnosis. – A family doctor is a doctor who can provide comprehensive care to a patient – he said.
Main photo source: TVN24
