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There are 49 hematology centers in the country, including 17 clinics and 32 departments. This provides a total of 1,510 beds and more than 42,000 hospitalizations annually. There are 19 centers performing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants, and in 2022, they performed 1,101 auto-HSCT transplants. Meanwhile, 15 centers performed 655 allogeneic transplants during the same period.

These data were presented by Professor Ewa Lech-Marańda (National Consultant in Hematology and Director of the Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine in Warsaw) at the September conference on hemato-oncology organized by the Institute for Healthcare Systems Research (IRSS).

“From 2019 to 2023, over the last 5 years, access to modern hematology therapies has greatly improved. A total of 75 new molecular indications have been reimbursed for 26 hematological diseases, including CAR-T therapies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We are witnessing a continuous increase in demand for healthcare services for hematology patients. This is partly due to the rising incidence of these cancers. Although nearly all blood cancers are considered rare or ultra-rare diseases, diagnostic and therapeutic methods have also advanced rapidly in recent years, allowing for earlier detection of cancer. Access to modern drugs enables longer life expectancy. All of this contributes to the increased demand for hematology services,” summarized Professor Ewa Lech-Marańda.

At the end of her presentation, the professor also introduced the publicly discussed draft of the National Hematology Network, which has been under consultation for the past year. It aims to significantly improve patients’ access to diagnostics and cancer treatment, increase detection rates, and ensure proper qualification. This will help extend 5-year survival rates for patients and fully take advantage of the new reimbursements introduced in recent years.