Warsaw South Hospital scandal sparks investigations

Former health minister Konstantin Radziwiłł said it is hard to imagine that senior management of Warsaw’s South Hospital was unaware of serious irregularities, including a separate zone for "special" patients, doctors being absent during paid shifts and limited professional competence.

Two criminal investigations have been opened: one for fraud exceeding 500,000 zł and another for abuse of public office. Prosecutor‑General Waldemar Żurek noted that 12 reports of deaths at the hospital were filed with the prosecutor’s office since 2023.

Former chief surgeon Dr Emil Jędrzejewski, dismissed after exposing the issues, claimed patients died because procedures were performed by staff still in training. Additional allegations involve former KO councilor and anaesthesia trainee Dawid Kacprzyk, who earned 1.6 million zł as SOR coordinator, later resigned and returned part of the money.

The city of Warsaw and the National Health Fund are now overseeing the hospital, while the Ministry of Health has been urged to enforce stricter controls to prevent recurrence.