Poland's doctors confront soaring hourly wages and an aging workforce

In Poland, some physicians are earning as much as 2,000 zł per hour, a result of hospitals competing for a limited pool of specialists, especially in emergency departments. Marta Nowacka, president of the Silesian County Hospitals Association, said the high rates reflect a systemic paradox: few doctors are willing to work in certain units, so those who do demand premium pay. She cautioned that imposing salary caps could quickly become the norm and called for broader systemic reforms rather than simple limits.

A separate GUS report highlighted that doctors and dental specialists are the oldest occupational groups in the country, with average ages of 56 and 55 respectively. The aging profile, coupled with a chronic shortage of medical staff and the designation of doctors as a deficit profession across many Polish districts, raises concerns about future personnel gaps in the health sector.