Poland Eliminates Referrals for Key Specialists, Easing Patient Access

Patients in Poland will soon have more direct access to specialists, bypassing the need for a referral from their family doctor. Starting in September 2025, three new specialties will be added to the list of those accessible without a prior visit to a general practitioner: psychologists, sports medicine doctors, and optometrists.

This move is particularly significant for psychological support, given the rising demand for such services. Patients can now consult psychologists directly, in addition to psychiatrists who were already available without a referral. Sports medicine doctors, who handle injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, will also be more accessible to both professional athletes and amateurs. Optometrists, specialists in diagnosing vision problems and fitting corrective lenses, will also be available directly, though they are not medical doctors and will refer patients to ophthalmologists if eye diseases are detected.

The primary goal of these changes is to shorten waiting times for family doctors and streamline access to specialist care. This will save time for patients who previously visited their family doctor solely to obtain a referral. Bartłomiej Chmielowiec, the Patient Ombudsman, stated that these changes represent a step toward more efficient healthcare, allowing primary care physicians more time for complex cases while offering a quicker path for patients with less complicated issues.

Beyond these new additions, patients can already see several other specialists without a referral under the National Health Fund (NFZ). This includes psychiatrists, gynecologists, oncologists, dermatologists, and dentists. The expansion of direct access aims to create a more responsive and patient-centered healthcare system.

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Zmiany to krok w stronę bardziej efektywnej opieki zdrowotnej i ułatwienia pacjentom dostępu do leczenia. Lekarze podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej będą mieli więcej czasu dla pacjentów wymagających szerszej diagnostyki, a osoby z mniej skomplikowanymi problemami zdrowotnymi lub potrzebujące odpowiedniego zaświadczenia będą miały szybszą ścieżkę do właściwych specjalistów.