Public Opinion Divided Over Transparency of Doctors’ Salaries

A new UCE Research poll conducted for Onet reveals significant public debate regarding the disclosure of physician earnings and potential reforms within Poland’s public healthcare system.

Public Sentiment on Salary Disclosure

According to the survey, 14.8 percent of respondents want salary transparency restricted to doctors in management roles at public facilities. Seven percent of those surveyed oppose salary disclosure entirely, while 12 percent remained undecided.

The poll, commissioned by Onet and conducted between June 21-22, used the CAWI method on a representative group of 1,023 adult Poles.

Proposed Reforms for Public Healthcare

Respondents weighed in on various systemic solutions, with 21.9 percent supporting the disclosure of all publicly funded contracts. Other proposals included banning private practice for public hospital doctors (17.3 percent) and implementing electronic time-tracking for medical staff (14.4 percent).

Additionally, 14.8 percent favored higher salaries in exchange for exclusive work in the public sector, while 14.3 percent supported placing formal limits on earnings derived from public funds.

The Case of Warsaw Southern Hospital

The debate follows a scandal involving Dawid Kacprzyk, a former district councilor and SOR coordinator at Warsaw Southern Hospital. Reports revealed he had established an unofficial admission path for politicians and their relatives.

Kacprzyk reported 1.6 million PLN in income from his public hospital role. Following media disclosures, he resigned from his political affiliations and council seat, his contract was terminated, and the hospital’s management board was dismissed by the Mayor of Warsaw. The matter is currently under investigation by the prosecutor’s office.