The Institute of Rural Health, founded in 1951 by a group of physicians and researchers focused around Prof. Witold Chodźko, is a scientific and service-treatment institution subordinated to the Minister of Health, which works on behalf of the widely understood protection of health of the rural population and improvement of sanitary conditions of the rural environment.

Main directions of the IMW activity are:

• Scientific studies, research-development activities and projects for implementation;
• Diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and decison-making activities;
• Training courses, mainly for primary health care physicians;
• Editorial activity.

The Institute of Rural Health employs over 200 people, including 120 specialists in various areas: physicians, veterinary doctors, biologists, toxicologists, chemists, physicists, psychologists, computer science, and a research staff consisting of 40 people, including 14 independent researchers

The scope of problems covered by the Institute is as follows:

• Evaluation of the state of health of the rural population;
• Evaluation of the environmental habitation and work in rural areas;
• Shaping health care in rural areas.

The scientific studies are performed based on research departments which specialise in various areas. Treatment is carried out on the basis of the Clinical Hospital with Wards, as well as the Specialist Outpatient Department for Rural Occupational Diseases, which covers 21 specialist consultation rooms, and in the Centre for Rehabilitation.

The Institute also cooperates with the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS) in the areas of prevention and rehabilitation. While using its many-years experience in the area of general, family and environmental medicine, as well as medicine and hygiene in rural areas, the IMW plays a significant role in the process of health care system reform in Poland.