Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes
Abstract Background The expansion of medical schools is one of the proposed solutions to shortages in health workforces. Poland has been struggling with limited human resources in healthcare for years. The aim of the study was to provide an analysis of the current situation of medical education in P...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07031-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849392143047589888 |
|---|---|
| author | Robert Kupis Ian Perera Alicja Domagała Magdalena Szopa |
| author_facet | Robert Kupis Ian Perera Alicja Domagała Magdalena Szopa |
| author_sort | Robert Kupis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The expansion of medical schools is one of the proposed solutions to shortages in health workforces. Poland has been struggling with limited human resources in healthcare for years. The aim of the study was to provide an analysis of the current situation of medical education in Poland and to describe the impact of the government’s ongoing measures to provide a new influx of doctors. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study presents a descriptive and comparative analysis of official governmental documents, showing the latest legal amendments, changes in admission limits, and geographical distribution of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for the period of 2013–2023. We referenced the current number of physicians in each voivodship and used a dynamic index to analyse the changes in quotas. We performed statistical tests where needed, considering a p-value < 0.05 to be statistically significant. Results The latest legislative changes enabled occupational HEIs to offer MD programmes. The mean distance between the two nearest HEIs decreased between 2013 and 2023. Total admission limits increased by 92.3%, reaching 10,289 available spots in 2023. The dynamic index was higher for quotas in private HEIs than in public institutions. The index was comparable, regardless of the teaching language. The number of students positively correlated with the number of physicians working in each voivodship. Conclusions This study highlights the uncontrolled expansion of medical education in Poland, driven by workforce demands but lacking a long-term strategy. Legislative inconsistencies hinder regulation, while new medical schools in rural areas may improve regional healthcare if properly planned. Recent policy changes emphasize the need for a national strategy based on demographic data and healthcare needs. Strengthening accreditation and quality control is crucial for sustainable medical education reform. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6702e495bf44d7b8c8ba4deedc259f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6702e495bf44d7b8c8ba4deedc259f52025-08-20T03:40:50ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-03-0125111310.1186/s12909-025-07031-yMedical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmesRobert Kupis0Ian Perera1Alicja Domagała2Magdalena Szopa3Department of Medical Education, Centre for Innovative Medical Education, Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeDepartment of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeInstitute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeDepartment of Metabolic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical CollegeAbstract Background The expansion of medical schools is one of the proposed solutions to shortages in health workforces. Poland has been struggling with limited human resources in healthcare for years. The aim of the study was to provide an analysis of the current situation of medical education in Poland and to describe the impact of the government’s ongoing measures to provide a new influx of doctors. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study presents a descriptive and comparative analysis of official governmental documents, showing the latest legal amendments, changes in admission limits, and geographical distribution of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for the period of 2013–2023. We referenced the current number of physicians in each voivodship and used a dynamic index to analyse the changes in quotas. We performed statistical tests where needed, considering a p-value < 0.05 to be statistically significant. Results The latest legislative changes enabled occupational HEIs to offer MD programmes. The mean distance between the two nearest HEIs decreased between 2013 and 2023. Total admission limits increased by 92.3%, reaching 10,289 available spots in 2023. The dynamic index was higher for quotas in private HEIs than in public institutions. The index was comparable, regardless of the teaching language. The number of students positively correlated with the number of physicians working in each voivodship. Conclusions This study highlights the uncontrolled expansion of medical education in Poland, driven by workforce demands but lacking a long-term strategy. Legislative inconsistencies hinder regulation, while new medical schools in rural areas may improve regional healthcare if properly planned. Recent policy changes emphasize the need for a national strategy based on demographic data and healthcare needs. Strengthening accreditation and quality control is crucial for sustainable medical education reform.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07031-yMedical educationDoctors trainingUndergraduate educationHuman resourcesQuality education |
| spellingShingle | Robert Kupis Ian Perera Alicja Domagała Magdalena Szopa Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes BMC Medical Education Medical education Doctors training Undergraduate education Human resources Quality education |
| title | Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes |
| title_full | Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes |
| title_fullStr | Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes |
| title_short | Medical education in Poland: a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes |
| title_sort | medical education in poland a descriptive analysis of legislative changes broadening the range of institutions eligible to conduct medical degree programmes |
| topic | Medical education Doctors training Undergraduate education Human resources Quality education |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07031-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertkupis medicaleducationinpolandadescriptiveanalysisoflegislativechangesbroadeningtherangeofinstitutionseligibletoconductmedicaldegreeprogrammes AT ianperera medicaleducationinpolandadescriptiveanalysisoflegislativechangesbroadeningtherangeofinstitutionseligibletoconductmedicaldegreeprogrammes AT alicjadomagała medicaleducationinpolandadescriptiveanalysisoflegislativechangesbroadeningtherangeofinstitutionseligibletoconductmedicaldegreeprogrammes AT magdalenaszopa medicaleducationinpolandadescriptiveanalysisoflegislativechangesbroadeningtherangeofinstitutionseligibletoconductmedicaldegreeprogrammes |