A portion of doctors failed to pass their specialist exams on time, prompting the medical chamber to request another opportunity for them in Poland.
Pandemic-Era Regulations at Issue
A portion of doctors have failed to pass the specialist exam within the allotted timeframe. The National Medical Council is appealing to President Karol Nawrocki to support changes to regulations and allow these doctors to take the state specialist exam.
The appeal concerns medical professionals who, due to regulations enacted during the pandemic, have irrevocably lost their chance to obtain a specialist title.
Exam Time Limits
Currently, doctors have five years after completing their specialist training to pass the State Specialist Exam (PES). Previously, they could take the exam indefinitely.
Law Changed Situation for Doctors
The regulation introducing the exam limit came into effect on August 8, 2020, as part of a law amending the Medical Professions Act and other acts (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 1291), passed during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Last year marked five years since the introduction of this limitation. This means that regardless of when a doctor actually completed their specialist training, the deadline for taking the PES expired on August 8, 2025. The last exam session was therefore the final opportunity for those who had not yet taken or passed the exam, particularly during the challenging pandemic period.
However, not all doctors utilized this opportunity. The medical chamber claims the new regulation was not adequately communicated by the Ministry of Health, and not all doctors were aware of the new requirement. The timing of the enactment during the COVID-19 pandemic further hindered their ability to adapt.
Copyright Information
All rights reserved. Further distribution of the article requires permission from INFOR PL S.A. A license must be purchased.