Laboratory services market analysis in Poland
The analysis of the laboratory services market in Poland showed that the industry will grow in the long term. The number of medical diagnostic laboratories in Poland is rising. Private laboratories make up 60% of analytical laboratories. Outsourcing, where an external laboratory performs all or some of the tests, is becoming increasingly common.
Need ready-made market data? See the reports in Market Scan.
See the scan catalogueThe number of single-speciality and multi-speciality medical diagnostic laboratories in Poland is rising. According to the National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians (Krajowa Izba Diagnostów Laboratoryjnych), there are currently 2,734 of them in Poland. Most are located in the Masovian Voivodeship (435) and the fewest in the Lubusz Voivodeship (56). The laboratory services market is dominated by small and medium-sized diagnostic laboratories. Data from the Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Diagnostics (Centralny Ośrodek Badania Jakości w Diagnostyce Laboratoryjnej) for 2017 show that 26% of laboratories are small facilities (1-3 professional staff), 65% are medium-sized facilities (4-24 professional staff) and 9% are large facilities (more than 25 professional staff). On average, there are 3 laboratories per 10,000 inhabitants.
| Laboratory size | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| small facilities (1-3 professional staff) | 26 |
| medium-sized facilities (4-24 professional staff) | 65 |
| large facilities (more than 25 professional staff) | 9 |
In 2019, more than 16,000 laboratory diagnosticians held a licence to practise, 2.2% more than a year earlier. At the end of 2019, 10,446 laboratory diagnosticians worked in healthcare facilities contracted by the National Health Fund (NFZ). It is one of the most female-dominated professions in Poland, alongside midwifery, nursing and pharmacy.
According to a 2020 PMR report, the value of the laboratory diagnostics services market in Poland in 2019 was nearly PLN 7 bn (public and private segments combined), an increase of around 5% year on year.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of medical diagnostic laboratories | 2,734 |
| Laboratories in the Masovian Voivodeship (most) | 435 |
| Laboratories in the Lubusz Voivodeship (fewest) | 56 |
| Average number of laboratories per 10,000 inhabitants | 3 |
| Share of private laboratories among analytical laboratories | 60% |
| Laboratory diagnosticians licensed to practise, 2019 | more than 16,000 |
| Laboratory diagnosticians in NFZ-contracted facilities, end of 2019 | 10,446 |
| Value of the laboratory diagnostics services market, 2019 | nearly PLN 7 bn |
| Market value growth y/y, 2019 | around 5% |
01
How much does Poland spend on laboratory tests per person?
According to EDMA data, Poland spends EUR 8 a year per citizen on laboratory tests, placing it seventh from the bottom in Europe, against a European average of around EUR 20.
It is difficult to estimate the number of diagnostic tests performed in Poland, and therefore to compare it with figures in other countries, because no statistics on the subject exist. As Maciej Szmitkowski notes, "The only information available is data from the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association (EDMA), according to which we are seventh from the bottom in Europe, spending EUR 8 a year per citizen on laboratory tests. In this respect we are outpaced by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovakia, not to mention the Czech Republic, which spends more than EUR 14 per person on diagnostics. The European average is around EUR 20, and the best spend as much as EUR 45 (Switzerland)".
| Country / level | Spending per person (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Poland | 8 |
| Czech Republic | more than 14 |
| European average | around 20 |
| Switzerland (highest) | 45 |
02
How did COVID-19 affect the laboratory services market in Poland?
PMR predicted that the pandemic would reduce the number of tests, partly as outpatient facilities switched to telemedicine, and only 309 of the 2,734 laboratories carried out COVID-19 tests (as at 2 April 2021).
The COVID-19 pandemic was a difficult period for the whole economy, and it also affected the laboratory services market. After the first quarter of 2020, a PMR report already predicted that "the number of tests performed will decrease, among other things because outpatient facilities are switching to telemedicine, hospitals are suspending planned admissions and some laboratories are suspending commercial testing". Even coronavirus diagnostic testing does not offset the negative effects of the pandemic on the laboratory diagnostics market. Of the 2,734 medical diagnostic laboratories, only 309 carry out COVID-19 tests (as at 2 April 2021, according to Ministry of Health data).
In the long term, however, demand for diagnostic services is expected to increase significantly. The main driver will be growing public awareness of how important diagnostic tests are for both preventing and treating all diseases (including viral and lifestyle diseases).
Representatives of the National Council of Laboratory Diagnosticians (Krajowa Rada Diagnostów Laboratoryjnych) say that the segment is still underfunded. This is most visible in staffing and in how laboratories in Poland are organised (staff shortages and low pay). Experts also point to a shortage of modern microbiological diagnostics and poor equipment in molecular biology laboratories.
03
How common is outsourcing of laboratory diagnostics in Poland?
According to a 2018 PMR analysis, the laboratory was run by an external company in more than 200 hospitals in Poland, and private laboratories made up 60% of analytical laboratories.
For several years, the share of public laboratories in the total number of laboratories has been falling. An analysis carried out by PMR in 2018 shows that private laboratories make up 60% of analytical laboratories in Poland. Experts say that laboratory ownership keeps changing, as private investors, especially foreign ones, take over laboratories. In 2017, foreign capital owned around 50% of laboratories in outpatient care and 25% in hospitals.
Hospitals are increasingly outsourcing laboratory diagnostics to external providers. According to a 2018 PMR analysis, in more than 200 hospitals in Poland the laboratory was run by an external company. "Outsourcing is more common among non-public hospitals than public ones. Of the hospitals that have a laboratory, around 40% of non-public hospitals have a laboratory run on an outsourcing basis. The PMR analysis also shows that outsourcing is most popular among hospitals with 101-250 beds".
Sources:
Ready-made market reports in PDF
Market Scan by MarketHub has ready-made PDF reports on selected markets: market size, key players, trends and data sources. If your market is not covered, we will prepare an in-depth market analysis.
Want to use this brief?
You can quote the data if you name the source and, where possible, link to our website. Use this credit line:
Source: MarketHub, "Laboratory services market analysis in Poland", markethub.pl, 04.2021