Poland medical credential concerns raised over unqualified staff

Medical paramedic Damian Garlicki has raised concerns regarding the verification of medical credentials in Poland following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In an interview on the PSTV channel, Garlicki detailed how simplified procedures for non-EU medical professionals allowed individuals without proper qualifications to work in hospitals.

Following the invasion, Polish authorities introduced a conditional right to practice, intended to allow medical staff from Ukraine to work under supervision for up to five years without full diploma nostrification. Garlicki alleges that in practice, document verification was often superficial. He cited a specific case of a Ukrainian woman who worked as a doctor in a Polish hospital for approximately four years despite having worked as a beautician in her home country.

Garlicki claims that while medical staff noticed deficiencies in clinical decision-making, language barriers, and lack of basic knowledge, a ‘conspiracy of silence’ prevailed. He suggests staff feared job loss or accusations of xenophobia, while hospital administrations prioritized filling shifts over maintaining quality standards.