Work on a no‑fault system in medical liability far from progressing

On 15 September 2026, the Sejm Health Committee in Poland held its second session on the effectiveness of the professional liability system for doctors. The session followed a meeting in July that had been adjourned after members of Parliament concluded that the data presented by the Supreme Medical Chamber (Naczelna Izba Lekarska, NIL) was insufficient to enable a meaningful assessment of the system. Ahead of the meeting, the President of the Supreme Medical Council sent a letter to the Speaker of the Sejm questioning the legal basis on which the Committee had requested the NIL to provide detailed data. He noted that the Chamber is not a state body and is not subject to constitutional or statutory reporting obligations to Parliament.

Members of parliament from across the political spectrum expressed concern about what they described as a lack of transparency and insufficient cooperation on the part of the self-governing body. The session was again adjourned, with a formal request for the NIL leadership to attend the next meeting and present comprehensive data. Some information was nevertheless provided. The NIL Secretary reported that the number of cases brought before regional medical courts has increased steadily, from more than 900 in 2020 to nearly 1,300 in 2025.

These proceedings highlight growing tension in Poland between medical self-governance structures and parliamentary oversight. This dynamic may directly influence the future direction of no-fault reform in the Polish healthcare system. Any future no-fault framework will need to define the relationship between the existing professional liability system administered by the medical chambers and any new compensation mechanisms that may be introduced.