President Karol Nawrocki on 14 June vetoed an amendment that would have given non-EU doctors an extra year—until May 2027—to obtain a B1 Polish-language certificate. The bill, passed by parliament in May, aimed to keep hundreds of Ukrainian war-time hires in the system. Without the extension, regional medical chambers have already de-registered 441 doctors since 1 May for failing to submit proof of language proficiency. The veto has immediate global-mobility implications for private hospitals and tele-medicine companies that rely on Ukrainian and Belarusian specialists with temporary licences issued during the COVID-19 emergency. Those whose right to practise has lapsed must now pass the standard nostrification process or the Polish Medical Verification Exam, which can take up to 18 months. Hospital administrators warn of staff shortages in oncology and emergency care, particularly outside major cities. Some are exploring corporate-sponsored language-immersion programmes to help doctors reach B1 level before the next quarterly review. For foreign employees in other regulated professions, the decision signals a tougher stance on language requirements. Immigration counsel expect forthcoming amendments to the Foreigners Act to introduce similar Polish-language thresholds for nurses and pharmacists. Employers should audit their foreign medical workforce, budget for certification costs (approx. PLN 1,200 per candidate), and prepare contingency staffing plans for summer holiday peaks.
Source: Rzeczpospolita
