The Supreme Medical Chamber of Poland has revoked the conditional right to work for 146 doctors from non-EU countries since May 1. Most of them are medical professionals from Ukraine who did not provide a certificate of Polish language proficiency at least at the B1 level
The Chairman of the Supreme Medical Chamber (Naczelna Rada Lekarska), Łukasz Jankowski, stated that a doctor who does not speak Polish should not work in Poland: “If a person does not speak Polish, they should not work as a doctor.”
According to him, the work of such specialists in hospitals can be dangerous for patients.
As of May 1, foreign doctors who have not confirmed their knowledge of the Polish language have lost their right to work.
“We have already revoked 146 permits, but overall the procedure concerns several hundred people,” Jankowski said.
According to Jankowski’s estimates, there are about 3,000 Ukrainian doctors working in Poland. Approximately a thousand of them have still not provided a B1 level certificate.
Possible Changes to the Law
The Ministry of Health is planning changes that may allow doctors without Polish language skills to work for another year. Jankowski called this decision erroneous and a sign of problems in the healthcare system.
He also noted that such doctors are often hired in emergency departments and hospitals in regions where there is a shortage of staff. However, according to him, the medical chamber opposes this practice.
Language is a Mandatory Requirement
The Supreme Medical Chamber of Poland has been advocating for mandatory confirmation of language proficiency for doctors.
Previously, the requirements were lowered to the B1 level — which Jankowski described as “tourist” and too low by European standards.
According to the head of the Supreme Medical Chamber, doctors without knowledge of the Polish language can negatively affect the perception of the entire profession: “They shape the opinion about the entire medical community.”
What’s Next for Ukrainian Doctors
The conditional right to work is valid only for work in a specific hospital and does not grant the right to practice privately
These rules were introduced temporarily due to the war in Ukraine.
Currently, new applications for conditional permits are no longer being accepted, and previously issued permits will be valid until at most the fall of 2029.
To continue working in Poland, doctors from Ukraine will need to:
- complete an internship
- pass the LEK exam
- validate their diploma through nostrification
Source: https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/kraj/news-kilkuset-lekarzy-z-ukrainy-straci-prace-jestesmy-w-trakcie-p,nId,23475406
