The paper presents an assessment of the health status of the Polish population using routinely collected data on mortality and morbidity as well as prevalence of some health determinants associated with health behaviour. Additionally, the targets of the new National Health Programme for the years 2006–2015 are presented. These targets were formulated with the knowledge of deficiency in the health status and health behaviour of the Polish population. The main health problems in Poland are similar to those in other EU countries, but their level is often much higher, especially in cardiovascular diseases and malignant neoplasms. Life expectancy has increased by more than four years since 1991, while before the political and economic transformation the stagnation of this crucial health parameter prevailed. In spite of the positive changes in population health during the last 15 years the situation is not satisfactory because the discrepancy with the average EU level of many health parameters is still considerable and qualitative changes in Polish health policy are required. The presented National Health Programme 2006–2015 may be the appropriate tool for this purpose.