Poland's Sejm begins deliberations on healthcare and physician salary reforms

The Polish Sejm has begun deliberations on a package of legislative amendments aimed at reforming the healthcare system. Proposed by the Ministry of Health, the changes target physician compensation and working hours for medical professionals providing services funded by the National Health Fund.

Key provisions include introducing a maximum hourly rate of 240 PLN gross and placing limits on total monthly earnings. The legislation also seeks to restrict the ability of medical entities to contract through medical companies or cooperatives and prohibits linking medical staff remuneration to the size of a facility's contract with the National Health Fund.

Medical professional bodies and hospital employers have expressed significant concerns. Waldemar Malinowski, president of the Association of District Hospital Employers, warned that state intervention in wages may not yield meaningful results and noted that doctors are already beginning to resign. Similarly, Klaudiusz Komor, vice president of the Supreme Medical Council, stated that the proposed solutions do not address the root causes of patient queues and could drive doctors toward the private sector. Critics argue that requirements such as a minimum half-time employment mandate could make it difficult to staff emergency departments and specialist clinics.