6 minutes 
Access to healthcare, including gynecological services, varies significantly across different regions of Poland. These disparities are directly linked to women’s health, especially in areas where the number of medical facilities is limited. The report “Polka u Ginekologa” (Polish Women at the Gynecologist), created by Kliniki.pl in collaboration with Algolytics Technologies and SW Research, highlights these inequalities through advanced spatial data analysis and explores their connection to women’s quality of life and health behaviours. The report addresses the quality of life in various municipalities and the associated health habits of women.
Read the full report: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0dmvHw0
A reality hidden in numbers
“While medical facilities are distributed across Poland, access remains highly uneven,” as revealed by our spatial analysis. Sylwia Krzysztofowicz, an expert in Data Quality and Spatial Modeling at Algolytics, explains:
“Although medical facilities exist throughout Poland, our analyses clearly show that access to them is uneven. This disparity is connected to when and to what extent women utilize gynecological care.”
So, it’s not about the lack of services but about unequal access. For instance, in regions such as eastern Poland or the West Pomeranian and Lubusz voivodeships, women have to travel up to 30 kilometers to reach the nearest gynecological facility. This situation leads to delayed visits, which can result in late diagnoses.
Table 1. Municipalities with the greatest distance to the nearest gynecological facility (private and NFZ)1
| Municipality | County | Voivodeship | Distance (km) | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Szudziałowo | sokólski | podlaskie | 30,2 | 2 727 |
| Dołhobyczów | hrubieszowski | lubelskie | 29,9 | 4 630 |
| Telatyn | tomaszowski | lubelskie | 29,8 | 3 500 |
| Łęknica | żarski | lubuskie | 29,4 | 2 238 |
| Sokółka | sokólski | podlaskie | 27,8 | 23 866 |
| Ulhówek | tomaszowski | lubelskie | 27,1 | 3 949 |
| Krynki | sokólski | podlaskie | 26,2 | 2 688 |
| Siemiatycze (gmina wiejska) | siemiatycki | podlaskie | 26,2 | 5 720 |
| Siemiatycze (gmina miejska) | siemiatycki | podlaskie | 26,1 | 13 391 |
| Dubienka | chełmski | lubelskie | 25,6 | 2 088 |
1 Based on data as of September 2024, excluding ongoing investments. Population figures are for 2023.
Table 2. Municipalities with the greatest distance to the nearest gynecological facility (private and NFZ)2
| Municipality | County | Voivodeship | Distance (km) | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Szudziałowo | sokólski | podlaskie | 30,2 | 2 727 |
| Dołhobyczów | hrubieszowski | lubelskie | 29,9 | 4 630 |
| Telatyn | tomaszowski | lubelskie | 29,8 | 3 500 |
| Łęknica | żarski | lubuskie | 29,4 | 2 238 |
| Sokółka | sokólski | podlaskie | 27,8 | 23 866 |
| Ulhówek | tomaszowski | lubelskie | 27,1 | 3 949 |
| Jednorożec | przasnyski | mazowieckie | 26,8 | 6 607 |
| Krzynowłoga Mała | przasnyski | mazowieckie | 26,6 | 3 235 |
| Krynki | sokólski | podlaskie | 26,2 | 2 688 |
| Siemiatycze | siemiatycki | podlaskie | 26,2 | 5 720 |
2 Based on data as of September 2024, excluding ongoing investments. Population figures are for 2023.
Health habits and internet access
One of the more intriguing findings is the connection between access to high-speed internet and health behaviors. For example, women living in municipalities with better internet access are more likely to undergo preventive screenings, such as breast ultrasounds. In municipalities with low availability of gynecological services within the NFZ framework, women more frequently perform breast self-examinations but are less likely to opt for specialized exams like ultrasounds.
The connection between digital infrastructure and access to healthcare highlights how crucial digital inclusion is in the context of public health.
Table 3. Municipalities with the lowest percentage of residential buildings having access to fiber-optic internet3
| Municipality | County | Voivodeship | Percentage of buildings with access to fiber-optic internet | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zawonia | trzebnicki | dolnośląskie | 0% | 5 866 |
| Rybczewice | świdnicki | lubelskie | 0% | 3 179 |
| Ojrzeń | ciechanowski | mazowieckie | 0% | 4 091 |
| Świercze | pułtuski | mazowieckie | 0% | 4 476 |
| Siemiątkowo | żuromiński | mazowieckie | 0% | 3 166 |
| Krasnopol | sejneński | podlaskie | 0% | 3 535 |
| Puńsk | sejneński | podlaskie | 0% | 3 953 |
| Rutka-Tartak | suwalski | podlaskie | 0% | 2 209 |
| Parchowo | bytowski | pomorskie | 0% | 3 820 |
| Tuchomie | bytowski | pomorskie | 0% | 4 186 |
| Konarzyny | chojnicki | pomorskie | 0% | 2 260 |
| Osiek | starogardzki | pomorskie | 0% | 2 251 |
| Świętajno | olecki | warmińsko-mazurskie | 0% | 3 322 |
| Wieliczki | olecki | warmińsko-mazurskie | 0% | 3 164 |
| Karsin | kościerski | pomorskie | 7% | 6 119 |
| Joniec | płoński | mazowieckie | 9% | 2 781 |
| Borów | strzeliński | dolnośląskie | 9% | 5 013 |
| Domaniów | oławski | dolnośląskie | 11% | 4 914 |
| Gzy | pułtuski | mazowieckie | 12% | 3 553 |
| Dzierzążnia | płoński | mazowieckie | 12% | 3 346 |
3 Based on data as of June 2024, excluding ongoing investments.
Conclusions and the need for intervention
The report notes that 47% of Polish women do not visit a gynecologist regularly, and one of the reasons for this is the lack of easy access to gynecological services. In municipalities with limited access to gynecologists, women only visit a doctor when it is absolutely necessary, which can lead to delayed diagnoses and increased health risks.
- 47% of Polish women do not visit a gynecologist regularly, 22% have not seen a gynecologist in the past two years, and 15% of women have never used this type of medical service.
- 39% of Polish women regularly undergo breast ultrasounds, while 58% declare that they perform regular breast self-examinations.
- 60% of Polish women prefer private gynecological clinics for their visits, but the availability of private services does not fully compensate for the gaps in public healthcare, which is particularly evident in rural areas.
- Women who regularly use private healthcare services are more likely to take care of their intimate health, and access to private healthcare often depends on their financial situation and location.
- 67% of Polish women believe that the availability of gynecological services within the NFZ framework is insufficient.
Women living in larger cities visit gynecologists much more frequently and have better access to services, highlighting the inequalities in healthcare access between different regions of the country.
Public and spatial data as the foundation for analyzing the quality of life for Polish women
Researchers from SW Research, in collaboration with the Algolytics team, conducted a spatial analysis, mapping the responses of study participants by their place of residence. By utilizing spatial variables prepared by Algolytics, they were able to identify differences in the availability of gynecological services, revealing significant regional patterns that were not immediately apparent.
JAs Sylwia Krzysztofowicz, Expert in Data Quality and Spatial Modeling, notes: „High-quality spatial data, like the ones used in our study, are crucial for making informed decisions. They allow for a better understanding of societal needs and planning effective actions to improve quality of life.”
The „Polka u Ginekologa” report is not just a collection of data. It is also a call to action for policymakers, public health officials, and healthcare providers. The findings clearly show that while Poland has a network of medical facilities, the availability and quality of gynecological care are uneven across different regions of the country, which requires immediate intervention. By implementing changes, such as improving access to facilities or enhancing digital infrastructure, it is possible to have a real impact on women’s health and improve the quality of healthcare in Poland.
