Presidential advisor warns: Southern Hospital is an alarm signal for healthcare system

Professor Piotr Czauderna, head of the Health Protection Council to Polish President Andrzej Duda, has issued a stark warning about the state of Poland's healthcare system. He calls for an immediate and independent investigation into accusations of medical errors and patient deaths at Warsaw's Southern Hospital, stating that the issues go beyond doctor salaries and reveal profound systemic flaws.

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We heard incredibly serious accusations that require immediate, thorough, and fully independent clarification by the relevant state institutions.

Czauderna emphasized that the grave allegations, including claims that "people are dying" at the hospital, demand swift action from the state. He believes the situation transcends financial disputes or operational issues, placing patient safety and public confidence at the forefront. The professor also addressed reports of a doctor earning approximately 1.6 million zlotys annually, attributing such high earnings not to individual pathology but to a "legally constructed system" that has unfortunately led to these outcomes.

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This is not a pathology, but unfortunately a legal effect of the system. It was constructed in such a way that it led to such situations.

The current hospital funding model fosters unhealthy competition for medical staff, with institutions outbidding each other for doctors. Czauderna noted that hourly rates can reach 350-400 zlotys, leading many physicians to work multiple jobs. He described these "wandering doctors" as unsustainable, particularly when specialists leave facilities immediately after procedures, potentially compromising patient care.

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We have 'wandering' doctors who travel from hospital to hospital. This is not a system we should maintain.

Looking ahead, Czauderna cautioned that a lack of reform could trigger a severe financial crisis. He estimates the National Health Fund could face a deficit of 20 to 30 billion zlotys next year if no action is taken. He stressed that temporary spending cuts are insufficient, advocating for a holistic reform of both healthcare financing and the organization of hospital networks to prevent a deepening crisis.

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If we do nothing, next year we will find ourselves with a deficit in the NFZ budget of 20-30 billion zlotys.