Introduction and objective:
The need to strengthen health education (HE) is currently emphasized in Poland. A strong emphasis has been placed on school HE. No comprehensive HE policy, addressed to other social groups and the entire population, nor an strategy have been formulated. In striving to formulate such a policy, it is worth to refer to old experiences from conducting HE. The aim of the article is to present the approach to the HE organization and activities in the 1980s and 1990s.

Review methods:
A review of legal regulations, statistical data from the Central Statistical Office, documentation of the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, public opinion polls (CBOS) and press information was conducted; key theoretical and methodological studies from those years were analysed. The context of HE activities was presented, including political, economic, social, demographic and health status. The legal basis for the implementation of HE, the interpretation of HE and the structure and organization of activities and methodology were discussed.

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
In the 1980s, HE had a systemic character, it was a continuation of work started 3 decades earlier. The legal framework, structure and organization of activities were relatively stable, and approaches and methods were developed. In the 1990s, as a result of the political transformation, radical and unfavourable changes occurred in the organization and activities of HE.

Summary:
Currently, with a view to creating health education policy and guided by experience, it is necessary to find answers to key questions: to whom, what, who, when, how and where?