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Poland moves to crack down on fake doctors and medical misinformation

12.05.2026 10:00
The Polish government is set to debate landmark legislation targeting fraudulent medical practitioners and unproven therapies.
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Pixabay LicenseImage by Julio César Velásquez Mejía from Pixabay

Ministers are due to discuss the proposals on Tuesday, following months of consultation involving more than 120 organisations and thousands of submissions.

The bill would ban anyone without recognised medical qualifications from diagnosing or treating patients, and would prohibit the promotion of unproven treatments or the discrediting of evidence-based medicine.

Operating a medical practice without entry in an official register would also become illegal.

Enforcement would fall to the Patient Rights Ombudsman, who would gain new powers to impose fines, order practitioners to cease unlawful activities and issue public warnings.

Revenue from fines would fund additional posts within the Ombudsman's office – a provision that proved contentious during drafting, with the finance ministry arguing Poland's strained budget could not support the new roles.

The health ministry had insisted the extra staffing was necessary, given that the bill significantly expands the Ombudsman's responsibilities without reducing existing ones.

(ał)

Source: PAP