On Wednesday, at the office of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy Marlena Maląg and the President of the National Health Fund Adam Niedzielski have signed an agreement for the implementation of therapeutic rehabilitation under the Solidarity Fund. The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, Government Plenipotentiary for the Disabled Paweł Wdówik.

The “Medical Benefits of the National Health Fund for persons with disabilities for 2020” will be financed under the Solidarity Fund in the amount of PLN 100 million.

The programme is addressed to persons over the age of 16, who require therapeutic rehabilitation and hold an accredited medical certification or an equivalent certification on light or moderate disability.

- “The funding under the Solidarity Fund will allow us to provide persons with disabilities with access to therapeutic rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities. Therapeutic rehabilitation allows to reduce the barriers limiting the daily life of persons with disabilities. It increases medical and psychological capacity and may even allow to regain full fitness.  Therapeutic rehabilitation allows persons with disabilities to take up or maintain social and professional activities, for instance by starting or continuing their education or work”. - indicates Marlena Maląg, the Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy.

The implementation of the programme will enable persons with disabilities to become fully socially active. However, in a situation where a person with disability remains under care of support institutions, such as social welfare home, social welfare centres or family support centres - the programme allows the person to return to independent functioning. 

The President of the National Health Fund Adam Niedzielski stresses: “Financial means under the Solidarity Fund - PLN 100 million - will allow to finance additional rehabilitation benefits for persons with disabilities. A relevant ordinance has already been prepared in order to immediately commence the competition procedure once the contracting resumes”. 

The “Medical Benefits of the National Health Fund for persons with disabilities for 2020” programme is the first government programme financed under the Solidarity Fund. A total of PLN 260 million will be provided for government programmes under this year's budget of the Fund.

At the same time, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy carries out the following programmes in support of persons with disabilities under the Solidarity Fund: Care and Residential Centres, Personal assistant for persons with disabilities, Respite care, Care services for persons with disabilities.

Supplementary benefits for persons incapable of independent living are also granted under the Solidarity Fund. This year's budget of the Fund allocated for that purpose amounts to PLN 4.54 billion. Approximately 582 thousand supplementary benefits for persons incapable of independent living have been granted until 31 July 2020.

In total, approximately PLN 22 billion was allocated for activities for the benefit of persons with disabilities in 2019. That is approximately PLN 6.6 billion more in comparison to 2015 (PLN 15.4 billion).