Background information

To increase the number of health workers in the Polish health sector, the government issued changes in recognition of skills of several groups of workers. The measure comes during workforce shortages in various health-related professions.

The government introduced changes to bills regulating the following professions: nurse, midwife, paramedic, physiotherapist. Legal reference: Ustawa z dnia 5 sierpnia 2022 r. o zmianie ustawy o zawodach pielęgniarki i położnej oraz niektórych innych ustaw.

Content of measure

The bill cancels the organisation of national qualification tests for paramedics and physiotherapist. Previously, educated paramedics and physiotherapists were required to take national tests as a condition to be permitted to work in their profession.

Furthermore, the bill simplifies the procedures of working temporarily as a nurse or a midwife. A nurse or a midwife will be able to report willingness to work temporarily in any regional institution regulating the profession, instead of a central one.

Moreover, procedures for automatic recognition of foreign qualifications for these professions have been introduced. These measures aim to increase the number of health workers available for work.

There is no monetary support provided in the bill.

Use of measure

According to the Ministry of Health from January 2023, around 5,000 doctors and 2,000 nurses from Ukraine have applied for simplified work permits so far. 3,000 positive decisions have been issued, with an average processing time of between 3 and 5 months.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Public employment service Public support service providers	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Unknown.

Views and reactions

Unknown.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 16 August 2022: pulsmedycyny.pl article on faster skills recognition for health sector workers (pulsmedycyny.pl)
• 02 September 2022: Bill easing the regulations around entering the health sector for new workers (isap.sejm.gov.pl)
• 23 January 2023: Ministry to Ukrainian doctors: Work! Medical chambers: OK, but at least speak Polish (oko.press)