Polish government unveils hospital reforms amid scandal over doctors’ pay and “VIP lounge”

Poland’s health minister has unveiled a package of hospital reforms intended to “rebuild trust” in the healthcare system, after weeks of controversy over doctors’ pay and allegations that some well-connected patients were able to get preferential treatment, including access to a “VIP lounge.”

The measures include proposals to cap doctors’ salaries and limit hospital wage bills funded by the public National Health Fund (NFZ). The plan also requires healthcare professionals to work at least half of their statutory working time in a single designated hospital, with additional jobs needing approval from their primary employer. The government also announced plans for a new electronic waiting list system and tighter rules meant to prevent loopholes that influence patient admission order.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that urgent improvements were needed, or senior officials could face consequences. Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda said the reforms would create transparent rules for procedure registration for all patients and that the government did not accept mechanisms that enable interference in how patients are admitted.

The scandal escalated after media reports that a young doctor linked to Tusk’s centrist Civic Coalition (KO) faction allegedly worked for many hours across multiple hospitals and earned very large sums. Additional allegations followed involving other doctors and hospital management issues, including claims that politically connected patients received faster care and more comfortable conditions than others.

Politically, the issue has also increased pressure on Warsaw officials associated with KO. In response to criticism, the head of the Southern Hospital’s board was dismissed, and political parties were said to stop placing members on supervisory boards of municipal healthcare institutions. Opposition figures argued that the response did not go far enough and called for the resignation of senior figures.

The reforms also build on prior parliamentary steps intended to improve transparency around earnings for public healthcare professionals, and some parts of the new package are expected to require further legislation.