Poland announces 8.82% hike in healthcare minimum wages, with new rates taking effect July 1, 2026.
New Minimum Wage Rates for Medical Professionals
The Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS) announced that the average salary in the national economy in 2025 was 8,903.56 zł, an increase of 8.82% compared to 2024. This increase applies to minimum wages in healthcare, which are adjusted annually on July 1.
Effective July 1, 2026, the minimum salary for doctors and dentists with specialization will be 12,910.16 zł gross; for pharmacists, physiotherapists, and nurses with master’s degrees and specializations – 11,485.59 zł gross; for doctors and dentists without specialization – 10,595.23 zł gross; and for interns – 8,458.38 zł gross.
Minimum Wages for Other Healthcare Workers
Minimum wages for pharmacists, physiotherapists, laboratory diagnostics nurses, nurses and midwives with master’s education, as well as nurses and midwives with bachelor’s degrees and specializations, and those with secondary education and specializations, would be 9,081.63 zł gross.
The minimum wage for physiotherapists, nurses, and midwives with bachelor’s degrees or secondary education without specializations would be 8,369.35 zł gross. Meanwhile, medical attendants would receive 7,657.06 zł gross. Minimum wages for non-medical staff would be 8,903.56 zł gross (higher education), 6,944.78 zł gross (secondary education), and 5,787.31 zł gross (below secondary education).
Ministry of Health Savings Plans
In January, the Ministry of Health presented proposals to the social side of the Tripartite Team for Health Protection to amend the minimum wage law in healthcare. The ministry’s proposal suggests that minimum wage increases should take effect in January, not July, starting from 2027. Additionally, the indexation of the lowest wages would be linked to a lower growth rate index.
According to a letter revealed by the ministry in December, shifting the wage indexation from July to January, effective January 1, 2027, would save approximately 6 billion zł in 2026. Considering the change in the indexation mechanism, the cost of minimum wage increases would decrease from about 10 billion zł to about 2.7 billion zł in 2027.
Presidential Veto and Financial Situation of NFZ
President Karol Nawrocki declared in December during the health summit that he would not agree to blocking minimum wage increases for medical workers.
The funding gap for treatment in 2026 was estimated at 23 billion zł last year by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund (NFZ). In 2025, the government had to support NFZ with additional funds, increasing the budget subsidy to nearly 33 billion zł from the planned 18.3 billion zł. NFZ Vice President Jakub Szulc estimated the consequences of the minimum wage law in 2025 at 50 billion zł.
