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Yesterday, a roundtable discussion was held at the National Institute of Public Health – NIH, focused on combination prevention as a response to current HIV/AIDS challenges in Poland. The event was organized by the Institute for Social Policy Development (IRSS).

The goal was to develop concrete actions related to HIV/AIDS combination prevention. The discussion addressed systemic gaps and psychological barriers that still prevent effective care for people living with HIV/AIDS in Poland. Participants also spoke about prevention programs applied in different communities, including youth, the LGBT+ community, and migrants.

Jakub Gołąb, President of the IRSS,  emphasized the need to act fast.

“In the face of a growing number of new HIV infections, both in Poland and worldwide, the need for effective prevention efforts has become extremely pressing. We need concrete measures for patients and coordinated cooperation.”

Dr. Bernard Waśko, NIH Director, expressed hope that the roundtable would mark the beginning of implementing real solutions for patients:

“Public health faces challenges not only from diseases themselves—especially lifestyle-related diseases—but also from global events: climate change, disasters, and war. These lead to mass migration, which influences the spread of various diseases. We must find responses to these challenges.”

Prof. Miłosz Parczewski, national consultant in the field of infectious diseases, stressed that patients should have access to HIV prevention. He called for more health promotion programs, noting that in 2023, about 2.2 million people were living with HIV in the WHO European Region, but only 110,000 infections were detected. He added that Poland still has an estimated 20% of undiagnosed cases.

During the expert panel, the emotional and psychological impact of living with AIDS has been widely acknowledged — the condition is still associated with exclusion, stigma, and fear. As Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak, President of the Foundation for Social Education, shared:

“It’s extremely hard for  patient to go to the doctor and say, ‘Hello, I have two kids—and I have HIV.’ They’re left alone, with no support.”

Experts emphasized: we can’t fight the virus without prioritizing prevention and education. There is a great need for awareness-raising campaigns, social outreach, as well as improved public understanding. It’s not just about testing but about protecting the public from infection and increasing the health security of Polish citizens.

Recommendations included the need to amend the law on infectious diseases and improve data quality, so there is reliable information on the number of people that are affected by this disease and whether they are receiving available therapies.

On July 8, the Parliamentary Group for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Response will discuss concrete actions and legal changes that can improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The roundtable was moderated by Karolina Wasielewska from the Institute for Social Policy Development with the participation of the following panelists:

• Prof. Miłosz Parczewski – National Consultant in Infectious Diseases
• Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak – President of the Foundation for Social Education
• dr Anna Baumann-Popczyk – Director of the Department for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Chief Sanitary Inspectorate
• Prof. Monika Bociąga-Jasik – President of the Polish Scientific AIDS Society
• Dr. Barbara Daniluk-Kula – Deputy Director of the National AIDS Centre
• Rostysław Dzundza
• Prof. Andrzej Fal – President of the Polish Society of Public Health
• Dr. Jakub Gierczyński, MBA – Member of the Council of Experts at the Patient Rights Ombudsman, European Health Network
• MP Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic – Member of the Polish Parliament; Chair of the Parliamentary Group for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Response
• Dr. Marta Niedźwiedzka-Stadnik – National Institute of Public Health – NIH
• Dr. Bartosz Szetela – Specialist in infectious diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology, and Acquired Immunodeficiencies, Wroclaw Medical University
• Iwona Wawer – National AIDS Centre

Thank you for a constructive and thought-provoking discussion on this very important topic.

Special thanks to the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene for hosting the event.

A full report with expert conclusions and recommendations from the discussion will be available soon.