Over 200 foreign doctors lose the right to work in Poland
More than 200 doctors from outside the European Union have lost their right to practice in Poland. This decision affects exactly 208 specialists who failed to meet the requirements regarding proficiency in the Polish language. This is significant information for the Polish healthcare system, which has been struggling with medical personnel shortages for years.
These doctors came to Poland and began working under simplified regulations. These were introduced to facilitate the employment of medics from abroad in crisis situations, such as during the pandemic or after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. This allowed hospitals to fill staffing gaps more quickly and provide care to patients.
However, the simplified law imposed a specific obligation on the doctors. Each of them had to provide a document confirming their knowledge of the Polish language within a specified period. This could be a language certificate or a certificate of passing an exam before a medical chamber. For a group of 208 people, this deadline has just passed, and the documents were not provided.
The Ministry of Health and relevant authorities decided to revoke the work permits for these individuals. Most of the doctors affected by this decision come from countries neighboring Poland, mainly Ukraine and Belarus. Without a valid right to practice, they cannot continue treating patients in Polish facilities.
Medical experts emphasize that the language barrier can be dangerous in a doctor's work. Good communication with the patient is essential for making a correct diagnosis and planning safe treatment. Therefore, despite the high demand for workers, knowledge of the Polish language remains one of the most important requirements for foreigners.
This situation highlights the challenges facing the Polish healthcare system. On one hand, the country needs many new doctors, and on the other, it must maintain high standards and patient safety. The doctors who lost their licenses will only be able to apply to regain them after fulfilling all formal language requirements.