Poland Announces Major Hospital Reforms to Improve Patient Wait Times and Transparency

Key Reforms

Poland's health ministry announced sweeping hospital reforms on July 8, 2026, targeting long-standing problems in the public healthcare system. The planned changes include caps on doctors' salaries, a requirement for them to work at least half their statutory working time at a designated hospital, and a new electronic waiting list system.

The government also plans to accelerate the rollout of a central patient registration system by the end of 2027 and introduce a new electronic waiting list for planned hospital procedures by the end of this year. The reforms would also require NFZ-funded hospitals to disclose payments and contract terms for external medical providers selected through competitive tenders, while ending less-transparent contracting arrangements.

What This Means for Foreigners

These reforms directly affect access to public healthcare for all residents, including foreign nationals on NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, National Health Fund) insurance. The new electronic waiting list system should provide transparent, standardized access to planned procedures across all hospitals—eliminating the ability for some patients to skip queues or receive preferential treatment based on connections. If you're relying on public healthcare through NFZ or have a spouse or children covered by the system, the reforms should improve your experience by ensuring fairer access to specialist appointments and hospital procedures, though implementation may take several months. Monitor official NFZ communications at pacjent.gov.pl for updates on the rollout timeline.

Sources

• Notes from Poland — Polish government unveils hospital reforms