Poland implements healthcare reforms and medical staffing changes

Poland is undergoing significant healthcare reforms and structural changes. The National Health Fund (NFZ) has announced changes to surgical procedures and quality-based payment models, set to take effect in 2027. These measures aim to limit the practice of ‘suitcase doctors’—specialists who travel to perform single procedures without providing follow-up care—by requiring specific surgeries to be performed in specialized departments with permanent staff.

Additionally, the government is proposing new regulations for medical staff remuneration. A draft project aims to cap hourly rates for civil law contracts at approximately 240 PLN and set monthly salary limits based on the minimum wage to regulate spending within the public health system.

On a regional level, significant investments are being made. In the Pomeranian Voivodeship, 130 million PLN in EU funds will support hospital modernization and the expansion of outpatient care. Other local developments include the establishment of District Health Centers to provide 24-hour ambulatory assistance in areas far from emergency departments, and various local hospital upgrades involving new medical equipment and staff reinforcements.