1. the Complaints and Applications Section of the NFZ

The National Health Fund has a separate Complaints and Applications Section in each of its voivodeship branches and in the Headquarters in Warsaw. If a breach of patient rights takes place in a healthcare provider or in a medical or nursing practice that has a contract with the NFZ and the breach consists in improper performance of a contract with the Fund, such a case should be reported to the Complaints and Applications Department of the relevant voivodeship branch of the NFZ. The Fund may in such a situation carry out an inspection and impose a financial penalty.

2. the Patient Ombudsman

In the event of violations of patients' rights, it is advisable to seek help from the Patient Ombudsman. The Ombudsman's Office will also provide assistance in actions against service providers, particularly if they are psychiatric care units. The Ombudsman can be approached by patients using both services financed by the National Health Fund and services financed by their own funds (e.g. private appointments).

The Patient Ombudsman's activities are regulated by the Act on Patients' Rights and Patients' Ombudsman of 6 November 2008. - go to the Act

Patient Ombudsman

11/13 Plocka Street

01-231 Warsaw

Freephone helpline for landlines and mobiles: 800-190-590
(Mon-Fri 8.00 am - 6.00 pm)

Official website of the Patient Ombudsman: www.bpp.gov.pl

3. provincial commission for adjudication of medical events (from 01.01.2012)

If a medical event occurs in hospital, after 1 January 2012, the patient, the patient's legal representative or the patient's heirs (in the event of the patient's death) have the possibility of submitting an application to the provincial commission for adjudication of medical events. The purpose of the proceedings before the commission is to determine whether the event resulting in pecuniary or non-pecuniary damage constitutes a medical event.

A medical event is the infection of a patient with a biological pathogen, bodily injury or disorder of a patient, or the death of a patient resulting from a medical event which is not in accordance with current medical knowledge:

1) the diagnosis if it has caused inappropriate treatment or delayed appropriate treatment, contributing to the development of the disease,
2) treatment, including the performance of surgery,
3) the use of a medicinal product or medical device.

If the Commission decides that a medical event has occurred, the amount of compensation is agreed with the hospital's insurer.Information on the Provincial Commissions for Adjudicating Medical Events can be found on the websites of the Provincial Offices (a Commission has been established at each Provincial Office).
For more on the proceedings before the Commission, see Patients' rights - the right to pursue patient rights

4. Advocate for Professional Liability of the Regional Medical Council

A patient who finds that a doctor has made a mistake, has been negligent in his or her treatment, acts contrary to the rules of professional ethics or violates the regulations on the practice of the medical profession may also turn to the Ombudsman for Professional Liability of the Regional Medical Chamber. On the basis of a complaint by the aggrieved party, the Ombudsman for Professional Liability initiates proceedings. The complaint should be submitted to the Regional Medical Chamber with jurisdiction over the area in which the defendant doctor provides medical services.The purpose of the proceedings is not to settle claims, e.g. material claims of the patient, but to draw professional consequences against the defendant doctor.

Address details of the regional chambers can be found on the website of the Supreme Chamber of Physicians www.nil.org.pl
Similarly, in the case of a nurse or midwife, the patient can complain to the District Chamber of Nurses and Midwives.