ByadminEUROMED simplified employment of physicians and dentists in Poland beyond the limits.
From 2021, Poland simplified the employment of healthcare professionals who graduated outside the EU. This is a chance for doctors to break into the European labour market, get insights into the Polish healthcare system, join a team of qualified specialists and become part of it.
For simplified employment, you do not need to confirm a diploma and pass the Polish language test. However, there are some restrictions to obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Health in Poland. You must submit documents while arranging an employing clinic to a doctor who does not speak Polish and has no diploma confirmed, following by an interview.
The EUROMED Foundation helps physicians from outside the EU to find a job in Poland in their field through a simplified procedure. Irina Zakharenko, a Limited Right to Medical Practice program expert, reveals the specifics of such employment.
– Irina, could you tell us about the program of simplified employment of doctors in Poland?
The Polish law on Physicians and Dentists’ accepts three types of simplified employment, but two are in use. The first type is for doctors who have graduated back home after a 3-year internship and have been practicing for not less than three years within the last 5 years. In this case, some clinics can impose temporary restrictions on some doctor’s services.
That involves a preliminary interview at the clinic and employment certification issued to a doctor. In addition, the candidate must indicate sufficient Polish language level. Such a procedure works for the non-EU doctors.
The second option is simplified employment for doctors, regardless of their work experience. The only requirement is higher medical education. Only Ukrainian refugees who are in Poland since the February 24 due to the war may apply. In this case, the Polish language is not required, and employment arrangements may be done after the Ministry issues a Polish practice permit.
The third option available during the COVID pandemic had been cancelled since April 1 this year.
– How often do the non-EU doctors apply through the simplified employment?
Since the introduction of the procedure in Poland, we had more than 300 non-EU doctors applied. These are Ukrainian, Belorussian, and Russian doctors. Most of them apply for work with no experience, which was accepted extensively during the COVID-19 epidemic.
As I said, the simplified employment due to the COVID-19 was cancelled on April 1. However, the arrived Ukrainian refugee doctors to Poland may use simplified procedure to apply for a job with no work experience in the field back home. In this case, a doctor must submit documents to the Ministry of Health, obtain a practice permit, and then arrange an employing clinic.
– Does the EUROMED Foundation help doctors with those arrangements?
Sure. We collaborate with many hospitals throughout Poland and our option list covers more than 20 voivodships. Our purpose is making employed every doctor who applied.
We had the case when a doctor had successfully passed an interview in a clinic and got an offer, but arrived to Poland a year later. The position was closed at that time as the clinic hired other person. We had to rearrange an employer and the permit at the Ministry. Finally, everything has ended well. The doctor has got a new offer and is working in Poland now.
– How long does it take to proceed the documents?
It depends on the effort an applicant put in and the employment procedure. There are applicants who quickly went through the submission process and there are cases, which take way long.
As soon as all documents are ready, we do translation, which takes around 1-2 weeks depending on the package. In addition, the doctor must submit personal application to the Ministry of Health. As soon as the translation is ready and we get the personal application, we send the full package to the Ministry of Health.
It takes around four months or sometimes more for The Ministry of Health to approve the documents. In case of extended approval period, we receive a notification from the Ministry and notify the applicant.
We may withdraw the documents from the Ministry prior to approval without cancelling the procedure as the Ministry of Health allows copies.
It’s worth highlighting that I request the power of attorney in order for me to represent the interests of the doctor in the Ministry of Health (submit, replace, making withdrawal requests at the Ministry).
– What issues are brought on the table when applying to the Ministry of Health?
Firstly, the police clearance and health certificates must be up to date, as they are valid only for 3 months. Secondly, a doctor with an extensive experience applying for a job in his field must provide his internship record, which is often an obstacle. Finally, doctors must provide not only a diploma, but also a supplement to it with the amount of hours for disciplines and grades. In case when the supplement is lost, the applicant faces the issue to apply.
– Does the Ministry of Health accept only original documents or copies can also be submitted?
Copies are accepted only after notarization, which is charged extra. However, we insist that an applicant submit the original documents. We had no cases of lost documents.
Ukrainian refugee doctors arrived to Poland after 24 February may submit photocopies. This rule is valid only for the war period. After it the Ministry of Health restricts application with originals only submitted within 6 months, otherwise the candidate to be cancelled.
– How many approvals you got from the Ministry of Health among your candidates, and what are the reasons for cancellation?
We got 97% approvals. Concerning cancellations, there were some issues. For example, one of our applying ophthalmologist working in her field back home for a long time but at outpatient department. She received cancellation as in Poland she applied for simplified employment at the ophthalmology department. The in-charge official considered her experience did not suffice the requirements to the clinic where she would carry out surgery.
The second case was a cancellation of a neurosurgeon whose internship curriculum back home was way different from the one required for neurosurgery in Poland.
– What follows the approval by the Ministry of Health?
The Ministry sends us the documents back on the approval. We get them ASAP for a doctor to apply timely to the regional medical chamber for a license. The doctor must do it in person, since the Medical chambers accept no intermediaries. It takes from 3 to 4 weeks for the Medical chambers to issue the license.
