On 10 and 17 June 2011, Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 was signed. Pursuant to it, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland undertook to provide Poland with non-refundable assistance in the amount of EUR 578 million. Under the new financial perspective, EUR 76 million was allocated to the programme area "Public health initiatives". 

On 20 December 2012, the following agreements were signed: Programme Agreement of 20 December 2012 between the Minister of Regional Development and the EEA Financial Mechanism Committee on grants to the programme "Development and better adaptation of health care to demographic and epidemiological trends", Programme Agreement of 20 December 2012 between the Minister of Regional Development and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on grants to the programme "Development and better adaptation of health care to demographic and epidemiological trends" and Programme Agreement of 20 December 2012 between the Minister of Regional Development and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on grants to the programme "Reducing social inequalities in health".

On the basis of the aforementioned documents, the following memoranda of understanding were concluded on 29 January 2013:

"Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the programme entitled: Development and better adaptation of health care to demographic and epidemiological trends under the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014" and "Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the programme entitled Reducing social inequalities in health under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014" between the Minister of Regional Development acting as the National Focal Point, and the Minister of Health acting as the Operator of Operational Programmes in the area Public health initiatives.

The Minister of Health acts as the Operator of two operational programmes:

(1) PL07 "Development and better adaptation of health care to demographic and epidemiological trends", whose aim is to improve public health in Poland through the development and adaptation of health care to the actual state of health in the population and demographic factors. Project Promoters will be selected by means of an open call for proposals.

PL07 envisages the following areas of support:

(a) Amelioration of perinatal care - prevention services, diagnostics and treatment to increase the number of live births

(b) Better health care adaptation to meet the needs of the fast-growing population of chronically-ill, dependent and elderly people

(c) Cancer prevention aimed at reducing cancer morbidity and mortality indicator in Poland

Under PL07 applications may be submitted by all Polish public and private entities, as well as non-governmental organisations constituted as legal persons and acting in the public interest, including:

• health care institutions providing health services financed from public funds and their founding institutions, including:

- public health care institutions transformed into limited companies providing health services financed from public funds and their founding institutions,

• research institutes operating in the health care sector,
• medical universities or public institutions of higher education carrying out didactic and research activities in the field of medical sciences,
• nursing homes financed with public funds and their founding institutions,
• non-governmental organisations operating in the health care sector.

The call for proposals to the PL07 programme commenced on 15 March 2013 and continued until 28 June 2013.

The content of the notice and tender documents are available at:

http://www.archiwum.zdrowie.gov.pl/index.php/strona-212 PL07_Konkurs_12013_Dokumenty_PL07.html

(2) PL13 "Reducing social inequalities in health"

It is a donor partnership programme implemented in collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Health.

The programme consists of a predefined project that contributes to developing a cross-sectoral strategy and tools to reduce inequalities in health, as well as pilot projects related to extensive measures in the field of public health in local communities in selected poviats.

The pre-defined project will be implemented by the Department of Healthcare Insurance. The project will focus on public health management. It envisages the development of a cross-sectoral strategy to reduce inequalities in health, as well as the development of a model to assess health needs and a programme of health promotion and preventive health care for local communities that will serve as guidelines for poviats submitting their proposals.

Call for proposals for pilot projects concerning health promotion and preventive health care for local communities will take the form of a call for proposals with bodies of local administration (poviats) as applicants.

The call for proposals to the PL13 Programme was published on 31 March 2014 and will continue until 2 June 2014.