The head of state has signed a package of laws aimed at combating gambling addiction and improving access to medical care for the population. The changes affect the laws "On Advertising" and "On the Gambling Business", establishing strict restrictions on advertising for bookmakers and totalisators, as well as legislation in the healthcare sector, expanding the list of free medical services.
Gambling addiction is now recognised as a serious condition, capable of destroying the lives of individuals and their loved ones in a very short time. Financial debts, family crises, anxiety disorders and depression are just some of the consequences of ludomania. The statistics are grim: thousands of people take their own lives each year, unable to overcome this illness.
Under the new amendments, advertising for gambling is now under strict control. The law prohibits its distribution on mobile devices and internet platforms. A significant restriction applies to the media: only publications specialising in sports will be permitted to run such advertising. These measures are intended to significantly reduce the availability of aggressive advertising, particularly for younger audiences.
A major new measure is the ban on participation in gambling for individuals who have received a sentence of restriction of liberty or a suspended sentence. This measure aims to prevent reoffending, especially among those who have already faced the criminal consequences of gambling addiction.
At the same time, the head of state signed amendments to the laws "On the Health of the People and the Healthcare System" and "On Compulsory Social Health Insurance". The new provisions significantly expand the accessibility of medical care for the population.
One of the key changes is that the state is taking on the obligation to provide free specialised medical care for cancer screening examinations. These procedures are being removed from the compulsory health insurance system, allowing people to undergo screening regardless of their insurance status.
The issue of providing hearing aids to citizens without a registered disability has also been resolved. Previously, access to such devices was mainly available to people with an official disability status, which led to numerous complaints. The new amendments address this gap in the legislation.
These adopted measures demonstrate the state's comprehensive approach to addressing social problems. On one hand, control over potentially dangerous social phenomena, such as gambling addiction, is being tightened. On the other, citizens' opportunities to receive quality medical care are being expanded. This offers hope for a reduction in social tension and an improvement in the overall quality of life for the population.