Medical professionals are one of the most demanded categories of workers in all countries of the world. This circumstance is caused by the complexity of the process of obtaining an appropriate education, its high cost and the duration of the educational process. Choosing a direction for emigration, most of the doctors rush to the West. And if not everyone succeeds in settling in the states of the "first line", then working in Poland as a doctor in 2021 is quite affordable and not too complicated organizationally.
What kind of specialists does Polish medicine need?
Like most European countries, the Republic of Poland is experiencing an acute shortage of medical personnel. This fact was the basis of the state program to attract doctors of various specializations from the near abroad, in particular, from the countries of the former Soviet Union.
This part of the continent was targeted for financial reasons. The fact is that the salaries of Polish doctors are not very high in comparison with their colleagues from other European countries. But its level is still an order of magnitude higher than that of medical workers in Belarus, Ukraine and other CIS countries.
In 2021, there is a shortage of doctors in all specialties in Poland. And the number of practicing doctors of family medicine in relation to the total population is one of the lowest in Europe.
And yet, finding a job as a physician here is easier for those who have a diploma of the following profile:
- pediatrics;
- surgery;
- anesthesiology;
- cardiology;
- dentistry;
- gynecology;
- oncology;
- urology;
- endocrinology.
In addition, there are always vacancies for massage therapists, rehabilitation therapists, therapists in homes for the elderly. Veterinarians will not be left without work either - they will be willingly taken over by numerous farms.
What you need to get a job as a doctor
The migration process, despite its relative simplicity, still takes some time and requires compliance with documentary formalities. Pay attention to the requirements for candidates:
- higher education (internship is not always compulsory);
- work experience in the specialty;
- age range - 30-45 years old;
- striving for professional growth;
- knowledge of the Polish language.
Various Polish language courses are offered by universities and schools.
Employment as a doctor in Poland goes through several stages.
Confirmation of the diploma
A diploma that was received outside the Polish state is subject to nostrification (confirmation). This process consists in comparing the subjects studied in the home university and in Polish and eliminating the difference in the number of teaching hours. To do this, the following documents must be submitted to the administration of the relevant educational institution or the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland:
- The original of the diploma and its copy with translation into Polish.
- An extract with grades, as well as a copy of it with a translation into the state language of Poland.
- A document confirming that your diploma has not previously been submitted to other universities for the purpose of completing this procedure.
- Summary.
- Certificate of registration with the medical council at home.
- Employment history.
- Statement.
- Certificate of Good Standing (available from your country's Ministry of Health).
- Photo.
In different organizations, the list of securities may differ slightly. Additionally, you may need a school certificate, documents on participation in various kinds of conferences, scientific articles, etc.
Nostrification is not free and costs up to about 2 thousand zlotys (470 euros). In time, it can take from 1 to 3 months.
If there are no subjects in the studied program or if the hours do not coincide, be prepared for the fact that you will have to listen to a certain number of lectures. For example, the duration of a psychology course at Ukrainian medical universities is 150 hours, and at Polish universities - 220 hours. Therefore, candidates will have to "listen" to the difference, and at their own expense.
It should be borne in mind that, on the basis of the Prague Convention, the passage of nostrification for Ukrainians who graduated from a university in the period from 1975 to 2004 has been canceled. Such candidates can obtain a certificate of equivalence from the Polish Ministry of Health.
Remember that only those medical universities that train doctors of the corresponding specialization have the authority to carry out nostrification.
Exam on knowledge of medical terminology in Polish
The second prerequisite for successful employment is passing an exam for proficiency in medical terminology in Polish. It is paid by the applicant himself. The examiner is the Main Medical Chamber (Naczelna Izba Lekarska, NIL), which is located in Warsaw.
You should sign up for the exam well in advance. From the documents you need to have with you:
- statement;
- a copy of the diploma (in the native language and in Polish);
- confirmation of passing nostrification.
The examiner receives notification of the date and time 2 weeks before the upcoming event. The challenge includes the following tasks:
- written (dictation) - allows you to evaluate spelling, handwriting, spelling;
- oral (listening) - an assessment of the perception of Polish speech by ear and the ability to correctly respond to it;
- reading - testing reading and translation skills;
- speaking - the examinee is asked to act out a specific situation without preparation, for example, examining a patient.
Each group of tasks allows you to score up to 10 points. To successfully pass the test, you must receive at least 7 for each of them. If the outcome is positive, a certificate is issued. Otherwise, the exam will have to be retaken under the same conditions.
Getting NIP
An identification number or, as it is called in Poland, NIP will be needed by everyone, without exception, who decided to get a job as a paramedic, surgeon or doctor of any other specialization. It is issued by a special department - Urząd skarbowy. You can find such an organization in any city in the country.
From the documents you will need:
- Statement.
- Copy of your international passport.
It will take 1 month to get a NIP. This must be taken into account even at the planning stage.
Post-graduation experience
A feature of the legalization of foreign doctors in Poland is the fact that for the first 13 months after the confirmation of their diploma, they do not receive a salary. Therefore, all doctors with a Ukrainian diploma, Russian or issued in any other country will have to independently provide for their accommodation.
Postgraduate work experience includes 12 months of work and 1 month of vacation. To start an internship, you will need the following documents:
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- A document confirming that no medical investigations have been carried out in relation to the candidate.
- Doctor's certificate.
All papers must be translated into Polish. After that, you need to undergo a medical examination and obtain the right to conduct medical practice. The last document has a limited validity period.
How much do doctors get in Poland
As mentioned above, the salary rates for health workers in the Republic of Poland are lower than in other EU countries. Nevertheless, already at the start of his career, a young specialist receives 40% more than a beginner businessman can earn. At this stage, the salary of a physician is approximately PLN 5,500 per month (1,300 euros).
Salary depends on several factors:
- work experience;
- qualifications;
- region of work.
So, for example, it makes sense for therapists to look for a place somewhere in the vicinity of large cities.But surgeons and dentists, on the contrary, will benefit financially if they go in search of work in large settlements.
It should be borne in mind that the more a particular region needs doctors, the higher will be their remuneration.
If we talk about individual regions, then the lowest wages are in the Warmia-Mazury, Podlaskie and Lesser Poland Voivodeships. But in Opolskie, Wielkopolskie and Mazowieckie Voivodeships, doctors do not have to complain about wages. Such data are provided annually by the country's Ministry of Health.
The doctor receives his first monetary remuneration for work even in practice. It is approximately 1,850 zlotys (about 440 euros).
Comparative data are given in the table:
| Speciality | Wages in PLN | Wages in Euro |
|---|---|---|
| Wages in Euro | 7 000 | 1656 |
| Anesthetist | 14 000-20 000 | 3 313-4 734 |
| Vascular surgeon | up to 30,000 | 7 101 |
| Dentist | 6 000 | 1 420 |
| Nurse salary in Poland | 3 500 | 828 |
Please note that the table shows data excluding taxes.
In addition, every doctor has the opportunity to receive premiums.
- for duty (approximately from 100 to 700 euros for 1 exit);
- for additional consultations on the basis of clinics;
- for private practice.
It would be a big mistake to believe that doctors in Polish private clinics are paid more than in public ones: in most cases, the salary in the latter is 20% higher.
How much will it cost to live in Poland
Another important point to be analyzed is the cost of living in the country as a whole. So, your budget will include the following expenses:
- housing. Renting a 1-room apartment in a large settlement (Krakow, Warsaw) will cost about 1,200-1,500 zlotys (284-355 euros); rent of 1 room - 800-900 zlotys (189-213 euros). If funds allow, over time, real estate can be purchased here: one square meter costs from 4500 in the Polish currency or 1065 in the European one. The lowest prices were recorded in cities such as Torun, Lodz, Bydgoszcz, Olsztyn. But the highest rates are in the capital, in Wroclaw, Krakow, Gdansk and Katowice;
- nutrition. Food prices on the territory of the Polish state can be called one of the lowest in Europe. A consumer basket for one person will cost only PLN 300 (€ 71) per month;
- transport. It is best to get a travel card. Its cost starts from 100 zlotys (24 euros). Alternatively, you can use a ticket valid for a specific time: half an hour, an hour, 5 hours, a day (price - from 2.80 zlotys / 0.66 euros);
- communication and internet. On average, a package of mobile communication services for 1 month will cost 40 zlotys, or about 10 euros. But for using the Internet you will have to allocate 80 zlotys (19 euros);
- other costs. About 40 zlotys (10 euros) will be spent on the purchase of household chemicals. Individually, you should budget for spending on utility bills, recreation, sports, entertainment, clothing. Some types of goods are shown in the table:
| Expenditure item | Price in PLN (minimum) | Price in EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal wardrobe | 200-400 | 50-100 |
| Cigarettes | 12 | 2,84 |
| Shampoo | 6 | 1,42 |
| Dishwashing gel | 4 | 0,95 |
| Water 1 liter | 1 | 0,24 |
| Soap | 2 | 0,47 |
Conclusions
The high level of development of European medicine is the main reason that makes our compatriots go in search of better conditions for work, pay and life in general. Poland, of course, is not the ultimate dream for doctors, but even what they can get in this state in order to realize themselves as professionals will still be several times better than what they have at home.
Like many other European countries, Poland is experiencing a shortage of medical specialists, in particular, surgeons, pediatricians, therapists, gynecologists, and oncologists. But in order to get a job in a Polish clinic, you will have to go through several stages: to confirm your diploma, get a personal code and a certificate of passing the Polish language exam, and undergo an internship.
As for the salary, even its existing level allows an emigrant doctor to lead a decent lifestyle and improve his qualifications, taking advantage of the benefits that life in Europe provides. And yet, before deciding to move, it does not hurt to weigh the pros and cons.
