A jaw‑dropping discovery from a hospital in Sosnowiec has sent shockwaves through Poland: one surgeon clocked 4,881 working hours in 2023 — the equivalent of 94 hours every week.
That’s more than double what most labor laws would ever allow, yet it happened legally, thanks to a flexible contract that bypassed standard limits.
nspectors found that this doctor wasn’t the only one pushed to the extreme. Several medical staff reportedly worked over 40 hours straight without a break, exposing a deeper crisis in Poland’s healthcare system.
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A System Running on Fumes
Poland has one of the lowest numbers of doctors and nurses per capita in the EU, far below European averages. Years of staff shortages, mass emigration of medical professionals, and an aging workforce have left hospitals scrambling to fill shifts — often relying on exhausted workers juggling multiple jobs.
COVID-19 Made Everything Worse
During the pandemic, Polish hospitals were overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses reported marathon shifts, understaffed wards, and relentless pressure. Those conditions didn’t disappear — they simply became the new normal.
Why This Matters
The Sosnowiec surgeon’s extreme workload isn’t just a shocking headline. It’s a warning sign. Without stronger regulations and better staffing, Poland risks a healthcare collapse where overworked doctors face burnout — and patients face the consequences.
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