Booking a doctor in Poland: what changed on 1 July 2026 and how to use the new online system

Specialist appointments booked months in advance, no one answers the phone, and the online booking system nobody could quite explain — sound familiar? From 1 July 2026, Poland launched a centralised electronic system for booking medical appointments. This isn’t just a website update; it’s a genuine reform that changes how millions of people — including Ukrainians — access healthcare.

What changed and why it matters

Previously, every clinic operated on its own terms: some only by phone, some required you to queue in person, and each had its own website. Publicly listed waiting times often bore little resemblance to reality, with no way to verify them.

Which specialists can now be booked online

From 1 July 2026, the online system covers the following:

• Cardiologist — first appointment, no referral required.

• Mammography — preventive screening without queuing.

• Cancer screening — cervical cancer and other preventive programmes.

• GP / family doctor (POZ) — already possible via pacjent.gov.pl, now fully integrated into one system.

How to book online: step-by-step

Option 1 — via pacjent.gov.pl

• Go to pacjent.gov.pl and log in via Profil Zaufany (if you don’t have one yet, registration is free).

• Choose a service: specialist appointment or preventive screening.

• Enter your city or use geolocation, choose a convenient clinic and date.

• Confirm the appointment — you’ll receive a reminder by email or SMS.

Option 2 — via the mojeIKP app

• Download the mojeIKP app (iOS or Android) — free.

• Log in using the same Profil Zaufany.

• Book directly from your phone — the whole process takes 3–5 minutes.

Option 3 — via the AI voice assistant

From 1 July 2026, the system also includes a voice assistant powered by artificial intelligence, available by phone. You simply tell it your preferred time, doctor and clinic — the assistant finds a slot and confirms the booking. Particularly useful for those who find Polish websites difficult to navigate or prefer not to use an app.

What is Profil Zaufany and how to get it

Profil Zaufany is Poland’s equivalent of an electronic digital identity — without it, online booking is not available. There are a few ways to get one:

• Online — through a Polish banking app (mBank, PKO, ING, etc.) if you have a Polish bank account. Takes about 5 minutes.

• In person at the urząd — at a urząd gminy or urząd skarbowy. Bring your passport and PESEL number.

• At Poczta Polska — at a post office, with any document proving your identity.

Profil Zaufany is valid indefinitely and gives access to much more than healthcare — you can submit documents to government offices, check your ZUS records and get official certificates online.

How the waiting list works in practice

If no slots are available on your preferred date, your request isn’t lost. It is automatically placed in the central waiting register (poczekalnia). Priority in the queue follows a first-come, first-served principle, with exceptions for:

• medical urgency — if your GP flags your case as urgent, the queue shortens;

• protected groups — pregnant women, people with disabilities, and children under 18 receive priority.

Reminders arrive 7 days and 1 day before the appointment by SMS or email. If your plans change, cancel via the website or app so the slot becomes available to someone else.

Ukrainian rights to healthcare in Poland remain unchanged

The new booking system has no effect on the right to healthcare itself. Ukrainians with PESEL UKR and active temporary protection status are entitled to free medical care through NFZ — the same as Polish citizens.

The online system is a convenient tool, not a requirement. If setting up Profil Zaufany is tricky or the online registration feels overwhelming, booking by phone or in person at the clinic remains an option.