Poland’s PiS party announced a motion of no confidence against Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, accusing her of policies leading to increased patient mortality and healthcare access limitations.
PiS Announces No-Confidence Motion
The PiS party intends to file a motion of no confidence against Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, citing what they describe as “generating queues of death” due to funding cuts.
PiS Vice-President Przemysław Czarnek, speaking before the Ministry of Health in Warsaw on Tuesday, April 7th, stated that preventative care funding has been reduced by up to 60% for colonoscopies and gastroscopies, and 50% for imaging diagnostics.
Criticism of Government Policies
Czarnek questioned Prime Minister Donald Tusk about how he would respond to patients seeking preventative care in a year designated for preventative healthcare, suggesting the government is limiting access to NFZ-funded treatment.
He further argued there is no 23 billion złoty available to address the budget gap in the NFZ, claiming a healthcare crisis is escalating – from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025, and now in the second quarter of 2026 – potentially resulting in numerous deaths.
Allegations of Healthcare Demolition
According to Czarnek, Minister Sobierańska-Grenda is “an example of how to demolish one of the most important pillars of the state, healthcare.” He accused her of aiming to eliminate 30% of hospitals and introduce a system where patients pay upfront and seek reimbursement from the NFZ.
He characterized this as a return to pre-2015 attempts to privatize the Polish healthcare system, leading to longer wait times for specialists.
Sójka to Lead the Motion
Former Health Minister Katarzyna Sójka will “pilot” the motion of no confidence against Minister Sobierańska-Grenda.
Accusations of Betrayal of Women’s Healthcare
Sójka stated that the current government’s approach to healthcare represents a “betrayal of Polish women,” citing the closure of maternity wards and forcing young mothers to deliver in ambulances or distant hospitals.
Minister Grenda Accused of Systemic Dismantling
Sójka labeled Minister Grenda as a “liquidator” appointed by Donald Tusk, tasked with dismantling the healthcare system and removing patient hope. She contrasted this with the PiS government’s commitment to fighting for every patient.
She emphasized that limiting access and implementing cuts translate to concrete human tragedies, creating “queues of death.”
Call for Accountability
Sójka asserted the government must “be held accountable for every patient,” and promised to “remove the mask of hypocrisy” from the current administration, ending empty promises and demanding accountability.
Tusk Expresses Confidence in Minister
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, at the end of March, stated that Minister Sobierańska-Grenda has his full confidence in implementing difficult but necessary reforms to stabilize public healthcare finances.
Razem Also Announces No-Confidence Motion
The Razem party also announced a motion of no confidence against the Health Minister in early April, opposing the introduction of limits on diagnostic testing.
