146 Ukrainian doctors lost their licenses in Poland in May 2026: what happened

In Poland the conditional medical licenses for 146 doctors from Ukraine were revoked as they did not confirm their proficiency in the Polish language at the required level. The decision has already sparked a discussion between the medical self-government and the authorities regarding the shortage of staff in hospitals. This is reported by InPoland.

Poland revoked licenses for Ukrainian doctors due to language certificate

The President of the Supreme Medical Council of Poland, Lukasz Jankowski, stated that from May 1, the conditional practice permits for 146 medical professionals were revoked.

The reason was that the doctors did not provide a certificate of Polish language proficiency at least at level B1.

According to Jankowski, the language barrier directly affects patient safety and the quality of medical services.

In the professional self-government, it is emphasized that a doctor without adequate communication skills creates systemic risks for healthcare facilities.

Thousands of Ukrainian medical professionals work in Poland

According to Polish medical organizations, approximately 3000 Ukrainian doctors are currently working in the country.

At the same time, about a thousand medical professionals have not yet officially confirmed their level of Polish language proficiency.

Some doctors are awaiting certification or trying to submit alternative documents. As a result, the status of many employees remains unregulated.

Currently, administrative procedures are ongoing for several hundred other medical professionals working under temporary permits.

If you are interested in working in Poland, we suggest exploring 350,000 job vacancies on the Layboard portal.

In Poland, there is debate over doctor shortages and language rules

Temporary conditional licenses for foreign doctors were introduced by Poland after the start of a staffing crisis in the healthcare system.

This particularly affected regional hospitals where there was a lack of medical personnel.

At the same time, in the Supreme Medical Council, it is emphasized that the minimum acceptable level for doctors is Polish language level B1. In some EU countries, the requirements are even stricter - up to level B2 and higher.

The Polish Ministry of Health is currently discussing possible changes to the rules that would allow some doctors to temporarily continue working without immediate language certification.

For Ukrainian medical professionals in Poland, this means a risk of losing the right to practice without confirming language knowledge. Meanwhile, the Polish healthcare system may face a new staff shortage, particularly in small towns and regions.