Poland healthcare system faces staffing shortages and salary scrutiny

The Polish healthcare system faces significant structural challenges, including hospital debt, long waiting lists, and critical staffing shortages. In some regions, such as Iłża, hospitals have been forced to suspend surgical and intensive care units due to a lack of anesthesiologists.

Financial disparities within the medical profession have also come under scrutiny. While many hospitals struggle, estimates from the Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Tariff System suggest that between 10,000 and 14,000 doctors may earn over 1 million PLN annually, accounting for multiple roles. This contrasts sharply with previous estimates from the Supreme Medical Chamber, which placed the number of such high earners at only 500 to 600.

Specific cases of high earnings among medical professionals, including residents, have sparked public debate regarding the use of taxpayer-funded resources. For example, a resident physician and local official reported annual medical income of nearly 1.6 million PLN for 2025.