[Attempt to exclude invasive cardiology services in Poland--rationing, national sovereignty and European Union law].

One of the guiding principles of health policy in many European countries is equitable access to health care services. One of the life saving procedures is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) performed after coronary angiography. Introducing payment for these procedures would limit access for low-income patients. Fortunately, despite political debate, invasive cardiology develops well in Poland. It is important to notice that within the European Union Polish citizens would be able to receive this treatment in other member states and, according to a European Court of Justice ruling, the costs would have to be reimbursed by the National Health Fund. The wider implication is that the 10 new EU member states now have to realise that health care is no longer a matter of national sovereignty - a fact legislators and health care managers in the 15 member states of the pre-accession EU are still struggling with.