Centralized E-Registration Expanded to Eight Medical Specialties Starting August 1, 2026

Starting August 1, 2026, patients in Poland will use a central electronic registration system to book initial appointments with eight new medical specialists, aiming to streamline access and visibility of available slots.

New Registration Rules for Eight Specialties

Beginning August 1, 2026, the central e-registration system will cover initial appointments for eight additional specialties. Patients seeking care from professionals such as endocrinologists, nephrologists, or pulmonologists will be able to check availability through the Patient Online Account (IKP), the mojeIKP mobile app, or directly via medical facilities.

While the internet will be a primary tool, patients can still book appointments via telephone or in-person visits. The core objective is to provide better visibility of available dates and allow patients to use a virtual waiting room if an immediate appointment is unavailable.

Streamlining the Specialist Search

The current system often forces patients to call multiple clinics and hospitals to find an open slot. The central e-registration aims to aggregate these vacancies, allowing patients to look beyond the clinics they have historically used, which is particularly beneficial for those living in smaller towns.

Minister of Health Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda has announced that the platform intends to cover 39 specialties by the end of 2027, with plans to later include an electronic queue for planned hospital procedures.

How the New Booking Process Works

Patients can use the IKP or mojeIKP platforms to search for appointments without making a series of phone calls. The system also enables users to modify or cancel appointments. It factors in medical priority, specific patient rights, and the date of the request rather than relying solely on the speed of registration.

A “waiting room” feature allows the system to monitor for cancellations. If a spot becomes available that matches the patient’s criteria, the system may assign it based on medical urgency, ensuring that urgent cases are prioritized over stable ones.

Scope of the Centralized System

These changes apply specifically to first-time appointments. Patients already under the care of a specialist for ongoing treatment should continue to schedule follow-up visits directly at their respective clinics. The central system does not waive the requirement for a referral where one is legally mandated.

While this system improves transparency and reduces the likelihood of a single patient blocking multiple slots, it does not address the fundamental issue of a shortage of medical specialists. The system will help patients find existing capacity more efficiently but cannot create additional consultation hours where there is a regional deficit.