Summary

The present study is an attempt to show the aspect of patients safety in Polish and Swedish healthcare system, the respect for their rights and providing them with medical services on the highest level through, inter alia, free access to healthcare, decent conditions of stay in treatment, adequate information and responsibility on the part of highly qualifi ed medical staff. Patient safety covers a wide range of actions and is one of the priorities for quality healthcare. The direct impact on patient safety is exerted by regulations, fi nancial situation, quality standards of health professionals, infrastructure, equipment and medical technologies. This applies both to hospital, health center, care home, hospice care or other places where medical assistance is provided. Swedish healthcare system is one of the best performing systems among highly developed countries. Its activity and organizational structure might be pattern for changes to improve the Polish healthcare system.