Polish Minister of Health issued a new regulation introducing a free nationwide model for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, effective from 1 July, Euractiv reported.
This systematic reform follows years of dedicated advocacy by the civic organisation “Pokonać Endometriozę” (Conquer Endometriosis). The foundation’s president Lucyna Jaworska-Wojtas declared:
Today, this is possible because there are specialists and centres that can successfully take on this challenge. Yet 20 or 30 years ago, women found it almost impossible to get the help they needed.
Poland has long suffered from a lack of awareness about endometriosis, a shortage of public centres dedicated to its diagnosis and treatment, and insufficient numbers of doctors specialising in the disease.
Compounding the problem, symptoms are often difficult to pinpoint, resembling many different conditions. A persistent belief among some doctors that painful periods are simply normal has led to patients frequently being told, “That’s just how you are.”
Consequently, the average time for a woman suffering from endometriosis to receive a diagnosis in Poland has stretched between seven and twelve years. This delay is critical; early detection allows for better management, preventing the spread of lesions that may later require painful surgical intervention.
The newly launched programme establishes a comprehensive national system. Eight multidisciplinary centres have been created where women suspected of having endometriosis can access free, holistic care funded by the National Health Fund (NFZ).
This care encompasses consultations not only with gynaecologists but also surgeons and psychologists, alongside imaging diagnostics such as ultrasound and MRI. Pharmacological and surgical treatments, including laparoscopy, are included, supplemented by support from dietitians and physiotherapists.
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna emphasised that real change depends on doctors, highlighting the crucial role of the Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians and the implementing centres in developing effective diagnostic standards.
Controversy over celebrity endorsement
Just one week after the national programme’s launch, a controversy erupted on social media involving Ewa Chodakowska, one of Poland’s most popular personal trainers and influencers. She announced a collaboration with a chain of private diagnostic clinics, encouraging women via her platforms to purchase a €350 blood test package for diagnosing endometriosis.
This promotion drew immediate and strong criticism from doctors and medical experts. They were unanimous in stating that such tests do not diagnose endometriosis, labelling the marketing as “unfair to suffering women.”
Experts pointed out that, according to the recommendations of the Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians, blood markers should not be used as standalone diagnostic tools for the condition.
Critics further noted that women in Poland now have access to free, state-funded diagnosis and treatment through the NFZ. Promoting an expensive commercial package risked misleading patients and exposing them to unnecessary costs.
Facing the backlash, the test package was swiftly withdrawn from the market. This episode underscored broader concerns regarding the responsibilities of public figures in health communication and the potential for celebrity-endorsed medical products to mislead vulnerable patients.
