A surgeon at a general hospital in Sosnowiec, Poland, recorded 4,881 hours of work in 2023, averaging around 94 hours per week. The unusually high total emerged from a hospital inspection and was described by a local official as “shocking,” since Poland’s labor laws and European Union regulations typically limit average working hours far below that level. The surgeon was employed under a flexible contract that allowed the extended schedule without triggering standard labor code limits. Auditors found multiple medical personnel working extended shifts, often over 40 continuous hours without breaks.
Poland’s healthcare system has struggled for years with shortages of doctors, nurses and other medical staff, a situation reflected in low workforce indicators compared with other European countries.
Poland has one of the lowest ratios of practicing medical personnel per population in the EU, with reported figures around 3.5 doctors and 5.7 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, compared with EU averages of about 4.2 and 8.4, respectively.
Shortages are especially pronounced in smaller towns, specialized departments and non-urban areas, where access to care can be limited. Emigration of healthcare professionals to other EU countries, aging of the existing workforce and relatively low staffing levels have aggravated the situation, contributing to increased workload and extended hours for remaining staff.
Due to personnel deficits, doctors and nurses frequently take on multiple shifts and roles, often working long hours with limited rest. Polish healthcare workers commonly hold several part-time or contract roles to fill workforce gaps and earn additional income, which can result in heavy schedules and burnout.
The lack of enforceable limits on working hours for contracted medical staff, contrasted with general labor laws permits arrangements where doctors exceed typical weekly limits without formal oversight. This situation has drawn scrutiny amid concerns about potential impacts on provider well-being and quality of patient care.
During COVID-19 pandemic, Poland experienced high numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths, with cumulative confirmed cases numbering in the millions and official deaths exceeding 120,000 as of mid-2023.
Healthcare workers themselves reported prolonged shifts, understaffed wards, and critical shortages of personnel during COVID-19 waves, situations that intensified workloads and stress levels for doctors and nurses alike.
The case of a Polish surgeon accumulating nearly 4,900 annual work hours shines a spotlight on broader operational challenges in Poland’s healthcare system. Chronic staffing shortages, extended shifts, and pandemic-era pressures have strained medical practitioners and highlighted gaps in workforce planning and regulation enforcement.
Michalska, Kamila, and Alicja Domagała. “Addressing the Health Workforce Crisis in Poland from the Key Stakeholders’ Perspectives – A Qualitative Study.” BMC Health Services Research 25, no. 1121 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13150-5.