How to register for doctor in Poland (by area)

Does anybody know how to register doctor in Poland? We're going to move to Warsaw in november and I'm concern about my baby son. My girlfriend is Polish and my son born in UK, does he entitle for free medical service similar to NHS here?

Good question.

As I understand it, but I could be wildly wrong here - your son needs to be covered by either you or your girlfriend's health insurance in Poland. When you work, or if your girlfriend works, then you should be covered. The law is complex - but if either of you is paying ZUS, then the rest of the family should be covered. At least, that's how I understand it.

However, it's possible to get an EHIC card for your son - and this will give access to health care. It might not provide access to a comprehensive service however - although in my experience, Poland isn't really placing restrictions on the use of EHIC cards and instead is simply treating people on the same basis as Polish citizens. Technically, the use of an EHIC card isn't valid if you actually reside here - but the UK is hardly checking!

you're right. Thanx for your advice. 'cos my girlfriend said the system is so complex and may not cover him. Now, i can reassure her that everything shouldn't be that bad than she thought. :)

I've been paying ZUS from my salary, but I've never registered in medical site. Will it be free for me to go to the doctor's?

And you want to charge people to help them drawing on your wealth of experience and contacts with matters just like this? Nice one.

Have you got the ZUS booklet with current registration stamps? It is called legitymacja ubezpieczeniowa.

You show it at medical center and get a doctor for free.

It depends on what kind of contract you have - either you should have the book, or if you have an 'umowa zlecenia' contract - just show the contract to the doctor when you register/go.

If you have the book but haven't updated it, it's absolutely critical that you do so when required.

Hello Pawian / Delphiandomine

Sorry but I just found your post here. Thank you both of your answers.
I just started to deal with this medical book since I want to check my sight in hospital. But I heard I will a medical card with IC chip set, instead of a book. Maybe it depends on different province. I'm wondering whether or not it is free if I want to have physical check for my body every year?

Hmm, I am not sure. Poles have no tradition of doing regular check ups. They consult doctors when sth is happening and such consultation is free, as long as you are insured as a wrking person.

I think you have to pay for check up at your wish.

The introduction has either been delayed or scrapped - I can't remeber which. For now, you can continue using the existing book, or if you're newly insured, you need FORMS FROM YOUR EMPLOYER TO PROVE YOUR ELIGIBILITY.

What an utter joke of a system. Why they don't just insure everyone and save on the bureaucracy is entirely beyond me.

As for your question - it all depends on the doctor. You might get it free, you might not - the best bet is just to tell them that you don't feel 'right' and want a check up.

Thank you, pawian.
Thank you delphiandomine.

It seems that I better ask my employer if they will offer me annual physical check...
My friend told me I need to take my salary list to do with the register. I'm not sure if it is the "FORMS FROM YOUR EMPLOYER TO PROVE YOUR ELIGIBILITY"?

I don't have any comments on the Polish system, as it is really far beyond my understanding :D
If I tell the doctor I don't feel well, will they have me checked right away, or I still need to make appointment and wait for a long time?

No, it's not the same thing. There are specific forms that your employer must give you (to prove ZUS payment) - proof of salary isn't enough, you need these specific forms. Or if you have the ZUS book, then a stamp on there is enough.


Depends very, very much on the individual practice. You're free to go to any doctor, though in my limited experience, you usually need to call or visit the practice first thing in the morning to get an appointment for the same day.

About "legitymacja ubezpieczeniowa", in recent months ZUS wanted to stop give it (it suppose to be temporal, but stayed temporal for 5 years :-) ). Current status of it is unclear to me. But for sure the best way to prove your rights is RMUA, at least for people in "umowa o prace". RMUA is basicilly a document which your employer must give you (usually at the end of the month) which enumerates taxes and fees which were paid in your name. One of them is "ubezpieczenie zdrowotne" (health insurance).

As far as this is concerned: "But I heard I will a medical card with IC chip set, instead of a book. Maybe it depends on different province.". Yes it depends on province. As far as I know this system was successfully implemented in Śląskie voivodeship. But there could be another explanation for you. It is possible that your employer will give you additional private insurance (which is not uncommon). In that case this card may be for private health centre.

Some info from national health insurer in English:
nfz.gov.pl/ue/?katnr=5&dzialnr=2&artnr=716&czartnr=2

you can try to email them (I'm courius about quality of their answer in English :-) )

delphiandomine / jwojcie, Thank you so much for both of your kindly post.

The ZUS payment is listed in my salary letter. I hope it will be enough to register, I suppose all the information should be listed there, but if it is not enough I will ask HR to give me the specific form you mentioned~~~~

Soon I will see how Polish hospital looks like and how it works. :D Just their physical check for work was too simply to me...... Just some simply items were checked, such as sight and blood pressure. And it is so-called physical check for work.......

Merged: Does Poland have a list of registered doctors by area?

Is there a list of doctors like in the US where you can look names up in each state's medical board? I have copies of letters that were written by a much younger relative in Poland to my grandmother quite a few years ago. The relative was in medical school in Warsaw then and would now be around 70 years old if still living. She referred to the school as the Academy of Medicine in Warsaw. I don't think it exists under that name now - maybe was renamed? I also wonder if there would be records somewhere of graduates - at the time she still had 2-1/2 years of study left.

Yes, all practicing docs and dentists must be registered and can be found here: rejestr.nil.org.pl/xml/nil/rejlek/hurtd

In the 2nd & 3rd fields input the given name and surname, respectively (you'll need to use the correct Polish letters, if applicable - otherwise it might not find your person).


It's the Medical Uni of Warsaw wum.edu.pl/en