Healthcare Overhaul and Excise Tax Hikes: Key Reforms Under Council of Ministers Review

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s cabinet is debating a comprehensive legislative package on July 21, featuring major changes to public healthcare spending, e-cigarette taxation, educational digital systems, and judicial oversight.

Cracking Down on Astronomical Medical Salaries

The Ministry of Health is proposing strict regulations to curb excessive earnings in the public sector. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a maximum hourly rate of 250 PLN gross for doctors, with monthly earnings capped at 16 times the minimum wage.

The government intends to abolish payment based on percentages of medical procedures to prevent inflated billing. New rules mandate strict working hour limits for contractors and require full transparency for all contracts funded by public money, alongside the implementation of a centralized electronic registration system.

Increased Excise Duties on Vaping Products

The Ministry of Finance has submitted a proposal to raise excise taxes on e-cigarettes and vaping devices. The tax on devices will increase from 40 PLN to 50 PLN per unit, while the tax on e-liquids will rise from 1.80 PLN to 2.20 PLN per milliliter.

New fiscal measures will also include taxing control units lacking heaters and setting a 50 PLN excise surcharge for liquids used in disposable electronic cigarettes.

Educational Digitalization and Tax Deregulation

A national, free-to-use electronic school diary system is slated for a pilot launch in the 2026/2027 academic year. Full implementation across the country is expected by the 2027/2028 term.

The government is also introducing a deregulation package for PIT, CIT, and VAT. This includes removing income tax sanctions for payments made outside the “white list” of taxpayers and making the submission of import declarations mandatory via electronic channels only.

Judicial Reforms and Specialized Legislation

The Ministry of Justice is advancing reforms to simplify judicial service after age 65 and limit the delegation of judges to non-adjudicating roles to four years. Furthermore, the proposals guarantee free sign language interpreters for deaf individuals and initiate long-awaited reforms regarding court-appointed experts.

Ministers are also reviewing updates to the Water Law, new anti-terrorism regulations, and special legislation to support the XXVI World Scout Jamboree, which will be hosted in Gdańsk in 2027.