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Objective: To assess the concept of public involvement in the decision-making process in the healthcare sector in Poland., Methods: A poll was conducted in 2011 on a representative random sample of residents of Poland. Respondents were asked about their preferences concerning the selection of the groups most appropriately representing public interests in the process of decision-making in the healthcare: Patients' Advocacy Groups (PAGs), Carers' Advocacy Groups (CAGs) and Citizens' Councils (CCs). A systematic literature review was performed to study real life examples of patients' involvement in the decision making processes in the Polish healthcare sector as well., Results: In total, 83% of respondents would wish the participation of PAGs in decision-making concerning healthcare resources. The attitude to the engagement of CAGs and CCs was still positive but significantly lower, by 6 and 7 percentage points respectively. Some socio-demographic differences were observed. In the literature review, five examples of the Polish patients' empowerment and three cases of PAGs' engagement in decision making process were identified., Conclusions: Although its importance was met with a universal approval by the majority of responders, real life examples of public engagement in decision making process indicate there is still room for improvement in the Polish healthcare., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)