Today the Council of Ministers adopted a draft amendment to the Law on Higher Education and Science and Amendments to Certain Other Laws. The changes being introduced will make it possible for medical students to apply for a loan with the possibility of its subsequent cancellation.

According to the new regulations, students pursuing medical studies conducted in the Polish language on a fee-paying basis at Polish higher education institutions who began their studies before the 2021/2022 academic year, as well as those undertaking their studies starting in 2021/2022, will be able to apply for a loan for medical studies.

According to the Health Ministry:

“Students who decide to take advantage of the loan for medical studies will be given the opportunity to cover either part or all of the cost of their education, and then, upon meeting the conditions, to have it partially or fully forgiven.

The draft also stipulates that full loan cancellation will be possible if the conditions are met together:

  • the obligation to work off the studies after graduation for a period of not less than 10 years within 12 consecutive years counted from the date of graduation, in a public health service,
  • the obligation to obtain a specialty degree within the said period, in the field of medicine considered a priority on the date the doctor begins specialty training.

Decisions forgiving credit for medical studies will be issued by the Minister of Health, as well as banks to a limited extent.”

One of the reasons justifying the changes is that qualified medical professionals are leaving the country in search of other career opportunities. Data from the Central Register of Doctors and Dentists of the Republic of Poland, maintained by the Supreme Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, shows that the number of certificates issued only to doctors (excluding specialists) since the Republic of Poland’s entry into the European Union (EU), i.e. from May 1, 2004, to 2019, amounted to about 16,000. It is assumed that such certificates are requested by doctors wishing to pursue their careers outside the country.

“We are constantly working to increase the number of doctors in Poland, especially in priority fields. For years we have been increasing the number of universities where medicine and nursing can be studied. Now we have prepared special solutions for future doctors – a law on student loans, which is expected to result in more opportunities for paid study with the condition of loan cancellation.”

– informed Health Minister Adam Niedzielski.

The new solutions are expected to take effect 14 days after being published in the Official Gazette, with the exception of some provisions that will take effect on other dates, and it will be possible to apply for the loan as early as the first semester of the 2021/2022 academic year.

Read the announcement from the Ministry of Health: https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/rzad-przyjal-projekt-ustawy-o-kredytach-na-studia-medyczne