The number of HIV infections has increased in Poland. There have been no changes in Spain and Croatia

Monday, Dec 22, 2025

Gazeta Wyborcza

Poland sees rising HIV cases; experts urge better testing and PrEP access despite treatment availability.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

In Poland, 2879 new HIV infections were recorded in 2023, with 184 AIDS cases and 22 deaths from AIDS reported that year. Since 1985, 32,935 people have been diagnosed with HIV, and 4,194 AIDS cases have been registered. The problem is worsening; while there were 915 new infections in 2020, 2024 shows similar statistics to 2023, with over 2,000 new infections recorded from the beginning of 2024 through November. Experts cite factors such as reduced testing during COVID-19, influx of people from higher infection rate areas, and limited access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Recent trends show a shift in patient age structure, with men over 30 being the largest group in 2022, alongside increased infections among women and foreigners. The return to normal after pandemic restrictions has also contributed to delayed diagnoses. Experts note that migration from Ukraine is influencing statistics, but it is not the sole cause. Sanatorium tourism among seniors is another factor, as older individuals may neglect safety precautions. Despite free treatment availability, systemic changes are needed, including promoting anonymous rapid testing and expanding PrEP access, which is currently limited in Poland. Public awareness is low; nearly 90% of Poles have never been tested for HIV despite risky sexual experiences. While recent efforts focus on diagnosis and treatment, prevention remains underfunded. New government plans aim to double funding for diagnostic points and helplines in 2024 and allocate significantly more funds for this purpose in 2025, though preventive spending is still disproportionately low compared to treatment costs. The issue of stigma prevents many from seeking testing or care. Internationally, Poland’s HIV rate (6.1 per 100k) shows a post-pandemic increase, contrasting with declining trends seen in Spain since 2017. Other countries like Bulgaria and Croatia also face challenges related to late diagnosis and stigma despite providing free treatment.

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