Last year, prices of dental services increased by nearly 9% on average. Looking only at the data for December 2024, the increase was little than 8%. According to GUS analyses, the prices of these services in Poland increase much faster than the average in the European Union. For any experts, this is shocking information. At the same time, the average household spends small in the area described. For comparison, in 2024 inflation in the wellness sector amounted to over 4% annually. There are besides forecasts on the marketplace that in 2025 prices of dental services will increase by about 10%.
According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), the prices of dental services in 2024 increased by 8.9% on average compared to 2023. In December this increase was 7.7% compared to December 2023. Dr. Piotr Przybylski of the Implant Medical Clinic in Gniezno, says that dentists have been facing always higher prices of components, specified as specialist materials and rendering services. In addition, energy and gas charges powerfully influence the final cost of the services offered. The expert points out that last year the overall increase in these components was within 20-30% of the rdr.
“Our observations show that the prices of dental services in fresh years have been affected by pandemics. Cabinets had to meet the sanitary requirements of that period. Moreover, the availability of dental services under the NFZ is besides important. At the same time, it should be noted that the prices of these services in Poland increase much faster than the average in the European Union. Compared to the base year – 2015, the prices of dental services in Poland rose by 100%, while in the EU – by little than 25% – were commented by Ewa Adach-Stankiewicz, manager of the Department of Trade and Services in the Central Statistical Office.
For dr. n. med. Piotr Przybylski, it is shocking that in Poland the prices of dental services increase much faster than the EU average. The level of inflation, even in times of its strongest growth, was about the same level across the Union and sometimes higher in us. According to the expert, each specified increase causes a patient to react. Treatment is usually restricted or temporarily discontinued, which is simply a reasonably dangerous phenomenon from a medical point of view. Dr Przybylski besides adds that doctors should only deal with treatment. However, they increasingly request to advise patients on alternate solutions. And that is the cost of services.
– According to our data, the average household spends small on dental services, due to the fact that about 0.5%. In contrast, the share of wellness expenditure in general is over 5%, and in order to illustrate the situation – on food – more than 25%. Our analysis besides shows that the prices of dental services are very different compared to another food, freight or service groups, where there is no specified spread," added the manager of the Department of Trade and Services at the Central Statistical Office.
According to an expert at Implant Medical, the results are highly worrying and are mainly determined by 2 factors. Firstly, Poles inactive deficiency education at the right level. As a result, they do not see a greater request for higher spending on specified services. Ultimately, this approach is, of course, to the detriment of themselves. Secondly, we still, as a society, make besides small money to treat ourselves only in return. The state has long pushed dental services into the private sector. According to the expert, this is unfortunately a major problem for patients. frequently unsurpassable from the financial side.
– In 2024, inflation in the wellness sector was 4.2% per year. In the field of health-related services, more than dental services increased infirmary and sanatorium services and medical services – above 9%. On the another hand, smaller increases concern pharmaceutical products – 1.8%, as well as therapeutic equipment and equipment – 2.7%. In December 2024, inflation in the wellness sector amounted to 5.5% compared to December 2023," says Adach-Stankiewicz.
There are opinions in public that these results are the consequence of many years of negligence in wellness care and care. The pandemic and advanced inflation only warmed the state. There is besides no shortage of forecasts that the difference between the prices of dental services and inflation in the wellness sector will increase further in subsequent years.
– It is already costly and highly hard for patients. The public should talk louder about it and forget about concrete actions, otherwise things will get worse. Eventually, we'll get to the point where there's truly not quite a few people who can actually afford a dentist. But the current prices are inactive undervalued. There are factors and components that task the full service, which went up by up to 20-30% rdr. The prices in the cabinets did not emergence so strongly, due to the fact that dentists truly lift them very carefully, of course at the expense of their margin. If they were following actual increases, we would have an increase of at least 15%," says an expert at the Implant Medical Clinic in Gnieźno.
A question arises about the price of dental services in 2025. any experts believe that they can peculiarly increase in large and medium-sized cities. The cost of surviving there is the fastest going up. There is besides an increase in the price of hygiene, specified as toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.
– If this goes on, in 2025 the increase in the prices of dental services may be two-digit, i.e. about 10% of the year. This can, of course, lead to a situation where patients cancel visits due to the fact that they simply cannot afford to. And the effect of this will be that their wellness situation will become seriously complicated and this condition will last for months, quarters and even years – concludes Dr. Piotr Przybylski.
text and photograph source: MondayNews.pl
