Patient transport price list 2026: private, per km and through the NFZ

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Private patient transport within a city most commonly costs PLN 265 for a one-way journey (typically PLN 235 ‑ 285), while outside the city providers add a per-kilometre charge with a median of 10 PLN/km. Through the NFZ, transport is free or partly funded if a doctor issues an authorisation and the patient meets the statutory conditions.

Patient transport is usually booked at a stressful time: after discharge from hospital, before dialysis, rehabilitation or an appointment with a specialist, when the patient cannot travel in an ordinary car. Providers’ price lists quote prices ‘from’, while whether the NFZ will pay for the journey depends on a doctor’s authorisation. We have collected rates from public price lists and explain when you have to pay for transport yourself.

Patient transport price list: how much does a journey within a city cost?

Patient transport within a city most commonly costs PLN 265 one way, and half of the price lists fall within the PLN 235 ‑ 285 range. The price includes travel in a vehicle adapted to carry a patient lying down and assistance from the driver. The cheapest offers start at PLN 150, but these are usually ‘from’ prices without surcharges.

Additional charges may apply on top of the base rate. The most common are for a second crew member to help move the patient, a stair climber if the patient lives on an upper floor in a building without a lift, and oxygen therapy during the journey. Ask about them when booking, as they may appear in the small print of price lists. The provider should also ask about the patient’s weight and the type of stretcher required, as this determines how many crew members will attend.

Type of journey	Price according to price lists	Notes
Patient transport within a city, one way	PLN 235 ‑ 285	patient lying down, driver
Patient transport within a city, return journey	approximately PLN 530	at the median price, excluding waiting time
Transport outside the city	10 PLN/km	added to the base rate
Private medical transport within a city	PLN 235 ‑ 355	driver or paramedic
Taxi, ambulant patient	3 PLN/km	plus the initial charge

How much does medical and patient transport cost per km?

The median cost per kilometre for patient transport outside a city is 10 PLN/km, with medical transport costing a similar 10 PLN/km. Providers usually add the per-kilometre rate to the base charge, and some count kilometres in both directions, including the empty journey to collect the patient.

To compare offers, ask for the total price for a specific route: the collection address, destination address and whether a return journey is required. On long routes, for example to a clinic in another voivodeship, the differences between providers are greatest because some offer a lower rate for long distances.

When does the patient pay for patient transport?

The patient pays the full cost of patient transport when booking it privately without a doctor’s authorisation or when they do not meet the conditions for NFZ-funded travel. The provider’s price list then applies, typically PLN 235 ‑ 285 within a city.

The journey is free through the NFZ when a doctor determines that treatment must begin immediately or its continuity must be maintained and the patient cannot travel by ordinary means of transport. It is also free for people with impaired mobility that prevents them from using public transport, for example when travelling to dialysis or a specialist clinic. In some other cases, the NFZ covers part of the cost and the patient pays the proportion specified by law.

The exact rules depend on the patient’s health and the purpose of the journey, so ask the doctor responsible for your care or the facility’s reception desk whether you are entitled to free transport. Transport is always provided to the nearest place offering the required care. If you choose a more distant clinic yourself, you will usually have to cover the difference.

Patient transport to a specialist clinic: how much does an example journey cost?

Private patient transport to a specialist clinic in the same city typically costs PLN 235 ‑ 285 one way and approximately PLN 530 for a return journey. For regular appointments, such as dialysis or radiotherapy several times a week, the monthly bill quickly mounts up. This makes it particularly important to ask your doctor about NFZ authorisation for recurring treatment.

If the clinic is in another locality, mileage charges are added to the base rate. For example, a patient from a small town travels 40 km to a regional hospital and returns the same day. The provider will charge the base rate and approximately 80 km for the route, or more if the journey from its base is included, multiplied by its own rate, whose median is 10 PLN/km. A charge for waiting outside the clinic may also apply. For longer routes, always ask for a written quotation itemising the mileage and surcharges.

How do you arrange patient transport through the NFZ?

Patient transport through the NFZ is arranged through a doctor, who issues an authorisation, after which the facility or patient books the journey with a provider contracted by the NFZ. The process usually works as follows:

1. Speak to a doctor, whether a GP, specialist or the doctor discharging the patient from hospital. The doctor assesses whether the patient’s health justifies transport.
2. Authorisation for patient transport. The doctor issues it on the facility’s form, so you do not have to find the correct form yourself.
3. Book the journey. When the patient is discharged, the hospital usually does this. For outpatient appointments, the patient calls the provider specified by the clinic.
4. Agree on the date, time and return journey. Ask straight away whether the return journey is covered by the same authorisation and how long the wait will be.
5. Prepare the patient: documents, medicines and information about the floor and whether there is a lift.

If the availability of the NFZ-contracted provider is unsuitable, private transport is the alternative. The price list then applies: PLN 265 within a city, plus any mileage charges.

What is the difference between medical transport and patient transport?

Patient transport carries a patient in a stable condition who cannot travel in an ordinary car, while medical transport is a broader term, often involving a paramedic or medical care during the journey. The distinction is not always clear in price lists: private medical transport within a city typically costs PLN 235 ‑ 355, while patient transport costs PLN 235 ‑ 285.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Neither service is a substitute for the emergency ambulance service. If there is an immediate threat to life, call the emergency number 112 or 999. An emergency ambulance is free.

How can you avoid overpaying for private patient transport?

• Ask for the total price, not a ‘from’ price. Have the provider state how much you will pay for the entire route, including the return journey and waiting time.
• Mention the floor and lack of a lift straight away. A stair climber and a second crew member are the most common surcharges.
• Combine journeys. For regular appointments, such as rehabilitation several times a week, providers may offer a package price.
• Consider a taxi if the patient can walk. A taxi journey typically costs 3 PLN/km plus the initial charge, making it considerably cheaper if no stretcher is required.
• Do not rule out NFZ transport without asking. Many people pay for journeys to which they are entitled free of charge.

If the patient needs regular assistance after returning home, transport is only one part of the cost. carer for an elderly person typically costs 46 ‑ 55 PLN/h, while we compare home and residential care in our article care homes for older people.

„Transport medyczny na terenie miasta | 150-350 zł”

rtpartner.pl, source

„W obrębie Warszawy | 300 PLN”

Falck Polska, source

„Transport medyczny i sanitarny Najczęściej zamawiane | Cena od 199 zł brutto, cena „od””

medycznytransport.pl, source

„Transport medyczny na terenie Warszawy · w jedną stronę: 280 zł”

Medical Center, source

You can find more healthcare service prices in the health category, with details and sources available at medical transport. This text does not constitute medical advice. Ask your doctor about transport through the NFZ.

The prices in this article come from providers’ public price lists and articles about medical transport. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the service page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a provider charge per kilometre for patient transport?

Mediana stawki za kilometr poza miastem to 10 PLN/km. Przewoźnicy doliczają ją zwykle do stawki bazowej za przejazd, a przy trasach międzynarodowych cena jest wyższa.

Who issues an authorisation for patient transport?

Zlecenie na transport sanitarny w ramach NFZ wystawia lekarz ubezpieczenia zdrowotnego, najczęściej lekarz rodzinny albo lekarz w szpitalu przy wypisie. Prywatny transport za PLN 265 i więcej zamawia się bez zlecenia, bezpośrednio u przewoźnika.

How much does a return patient transport journey cost?

Przejazd w obie strony to w praktyce dwa kursy, więc w mieście licz około PLN 530 przy medianie. Część przewoźników daje niższą cenę za powrót, jeśli czas wizyty jest krótki, ale często liczy też czas oczekiwania.

Do you need an NFZ authorisation form for patient transport?

Zlecenie wystawia lekarz na własnym druku albo w systemie placówki; pacjent nie musi go sam przygotowywać. Przy transporcie prywatnym za PLN 235 ‑ 285 zlecenie nie jest potrzebne.

How much does a taxi cost instead of patient transport?

Taksówka kosztuje zwykle 3 PLN/km plus opłatę początkową około PLN 7. To rozwiązanie tylko dla pacjenta, który siedzi i chodzi samodzielnie.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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