Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study
Abstract Background There is an alarming shortage of medical personnel in Poland, which seriously affects the healthcare system and access to medical services. This study aims to identify possible actions aimed at mitigating and preventing staff shortages in Poland. Methods A qualitative study was c...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13150-5 |
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| author | Kamila Michalska Alicja Domagała |
| author_facet | Kamila Michalska Alicja Domagała |
| author_sort | Kamila Michalska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is an alarming shortage of medical personnel in Poland, which seriously affects the healthcare system and access to medical services. This study aims to identify possible actions aimed at mitigating and preventing staff shortages in Poland. Methods A qualitative study was conducted as semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 key stakeholders of the Polish healthcare system. Interviews were conducted from April to July 2024 via the MS Teams platform. A directed content analysis of the interviews was conducted using NVivo software. Results Respondents indicated the need to develop and implement a long-term plan for the functioning of the healthcare system and medical personnel, which takes into account technological development, demographic and generational changes. Interprofessional cooperation, improved financing and working conditions, better management of available resources and attention to mental health, and implementation of activities aimed at preventing further employee outflow and burnout are necessary. It is also desirable to promote professions and educate from the youngest age - transparently showing and encouraging graduates to take up medical professions. Conclusions Possible actions to implement, aimed at reducing and preventing the shortage of medical staff in Poland, include preparing and implementing a long-term plan based on reliable data. The involvement of various entities should be enforced, taking into account management, financing and education. In addition, desirable actions concern the analysis of the needs of employees and the difficulties they face at work. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1cbe72e4ba6428996d40e6819af02aa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1cbe72e4ba6428996d40e6819af02aa2025-08-24T11:15:41ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-08-0125111510.1186/s12913-025-13150-5Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative studyKamila Michalska0Alicja Domagała1Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeInstitute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeAbstract Background There is an alarming shortage of medical personnel in Poland, which seriously affects the healthcare system and access to medical services. This study aims to identify possible actions aimed at mitigating and preventing staff shortages in Poland. Methods A qualitative study was conducted as semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 key stakeholders of the Polish healthcare system. Interviews were conducted from April to July 2024 via the MS Teams platform. A directed content analysis of the interviews was conducted using NVivo software. Results Respondents indicated the need to develop and implement a long-term plan for the functioning of the healthcare system and medical personnel, which takes into account technological development, demographic and generational changes. Interprofessional cooperation, improved financing and working conditions, better management of available resources and attention to mental health, and implementation of activities aimed at preventing further employee outflow and burnout are necessary. It is also desirable to promote professions and educate from the youngest age - transparently showing and encouraging graduates to take up medical professions. Conclusions Possible actions to implement, aimed at reducing and preventing the shortage of medical staff in Poland, include preparing and implementing a long-term plan based on reliable data. The involvement of various entities should be enforced, taking into account management, financing and education. In addition, desirable actions concern the analysis of the needs of employees and the difficulties they face at work.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13150-5Medical staff shortagesHealth workforce deficitsHealthcare policyHuman resources for health |
| spellingShingle | Kamila Michalska Alicja Domagała Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study BMC Health Services Research Medical staff shortages Health workforce deficits Healthcare policy Human resources for health |
| title | Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study |
| title_full | Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study |
| title_short | Addressing the health workforce crisis in Poland from the key stakeholders’ perspectives – a qualitative study |
| title_sort | addressing the health workforce crisis in poland from the key stakeholders perspectives a qualitative study |
| topic | Medical staff shortages Health workforce deficits Healthcare policy Human resources for health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13150-5 |
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