It has long been common knowledge that the healthcare system is a bottomless pit of finance. However, never before have we faced a crisis of its stability on such a scale in our country. We entered the new year, 2025, without an approved financial plan for the National Health Fund. The second half of last year was marked by media headlines about hospitals awaiting transfers from the National Health Fund, suspended admissions, cancelled procedures, doctors’ salaries paid in installments and the lack of statutory pay rises for medical personnel. In this publication, we will try to analyze what changes in the management of public healthcare in Poland led to the current, such a drastic crisis.