Polish doctors' pay rises as new salary rules start July 1

From 1 July 2026 Poland will raise the statutory minimum wages for all public‑sector medical staff. The highest minimum, for specialist doctors, will reach 12 910 zł gross per month, while the lowest, for medical assistants, will be 7 657 zł. Resident doctors in priority specialties will earn between 11 655 zł and 12 714 zł, with lower rates for other fields. The Ministry of Health estimates the pay hike will cost at least 3.5 billion zł in the second half of the year, to be funded from National Health Fund (NFZ) allocations.

Experts warn the increased payroll could consume up to 72 % of budgets in county hospitals, threatening investment capacity and liquidity. The reforms are linked to a mechanism that ties minimum health‑sector wages to the national average salary, which was 8 903.56 zł in 2025. The government also plans a new transparency law to collect doctors’ earnings data and publish NFZ contract prices.

Alongside salary changes, the Ministry of Health introduced a revised drug reimbursement list effective 1 July, lowering patient co‑payments for many medicines by up to 300 zł, though some drugs will see higher out‑of‑pocket costs. The minister defended the response to the South Hospital scandal, stating investigations were launched promptly and that the new wage and transparency measures aim to improve oversight of public‑funded hospitals.