The healthcare system is always a consequence of the implementation of a certain health policy of the State, which in effect determines the purposes and character of the system. This is the reason why State actions in the healthcare sector should always be responsible and publicly accepted. Over the past years, significant changes in the healthcare system have occurred. They were primarily related to management methods and the functioning of medical entities. These changes have influenced not only the work of the hospitals, but also the patients under medical care. The purpose of this paper is the recognition of patients’ opinions on changes in the healthcare system, especially with regard to the consolidation and commercialisation of hospitals. In the assessment of public opinion a diagnostic survey method was applied, The author used a research technique in the form of a questionnaire on a group of 100 adult patients of public hospitals. Patients’ knowledge on the changes occurring in the healthcare system is fairly low. Some of the respondents do not notice the difference between the consolidation and the commercialisation of the hospitals. In this case, regardless to the term used, the patients apparently perceive any change adversely, which was confirmed by the greater part of the respondents. These changes are usually associated by the respondents with closing hospitals, regardless of whether they were indebted or not. Among the most common concerns of the respondents there should be mentioned the lack of possibility of close-to-home treatment and more difficult access to specialists. Some of the respondents perceived some benefits arising from the changes in the health services market, such as a more hospitable approach of the medical staff towards the patient, as well as diagnosis and treatment with the use of new equipment. The extent of knowledge on commercialisation and consolidation is influenced by the age and the level of education of the patients. Age, waiting time, and place of residence of the respondents influence the perception of certain groups as taking the most advantages from changes in the healthcare system.

Key words: consolidation, commercialisation, health services market.