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Warsaw hospital board sacked over VIP treatment scandal

19.06.2026 10:30
The mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, has dismissed the entire management board of the city's Południowy Hospital, following allegations of irregularities at the facility.
Media spotlight: Warsaws Południowy Hospital has been hit by allegations of financial misconduct and reports of red-carpet treatment for VIP patients.
Media spotlight: Warsaw's Południowy Hospital has been hit by allegations of financial misconduct and reports of red-carpet treatment for VIP patients.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The move comes after reports involving Dawid Kacprzyk, a former city councillor for the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) party.

The 28-year old doctor coordinated the hospital's emergency department and is reported to have earned around PLN 1.6 million (EUR 380,000, USD 440,000) last year while undergoing specialist training in anesthesiology.

Fellow Civic Coalition politicians were also allegedly given priority treatment in his department, with full examinations carried out almost immediately after registration.

The case is politically sensitive in Poland, where long waits for publicly funded medical care are a major public concern.

Kacprzyk has since resigned from the party and his role as a district councillor.

He has repaid PLN 500,000 (EUR 117,000) to the hospital after correcting 33 invoices covering the period from January 2025 to June 2026.

The hospital has reported the matter to prosecutors over suspected financial misconduct, and an investigation is underway.

Poland's medical chamber has separately filed a complaint over alleged unauthorised absence from duty, after reports suggested his shift schedule overlapped with his television and parliamentary appearances.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the case would carry political as well as legal consequences, and that the government would look at curbing privileged access to public healthcare.

City Hall and the National Health Fund (NFZ), which finances Poland's public healthcare system, are both inspecting the hospital, with the audit set to extend to emergency departments across Warsaw's other municipal hospitals.

Aneta Gomółka-Siembora, a healthcare audit and procurement specialist, has been appointed to lead the facility.

Trzaskowski said her priority would be full cooperation with ongoing investigations, and that further personnel decisions may follow.

(ał/gs)

Source: PAP