The primary objective of the study was the presentation of hospital base in Poland on the background of other countries within the period of the last years. A constantly decreasing number of hospital beds in Poland and in other countries, in the situation of the ageing of the population which will need medical care may become the cause of serious problems. The decrease in the number of hospital beds is not only due to financial problems, but also the necessity to adjust medical services to the standards in effect, e.g. the European Union standards. Data by the OECD indicate that during the period 1990-2007 a clear decrease was observed in the total number of hospital beds in the countries analyzed (except for Korea andTurkey). The analysis of short-stay hospital beds in these countries showed that in 2007 the greatest number of beds among European countries was possessed by Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Poland. The report also presents hospital bed utilization in Poland, with consideration of individual medical disciplines. Poland occupies a relatively good position on the background of other European countries; however, taking into consideration the prognosticated demographic situation, a constantly decreasing number of hospital beds, especially with an insufficient number of long-term care beds, may become a serious problem for the system of health care in the future.