Adam Niedzielski: lifeguards can practice the profession on the basis of a diploma

Recall, the law on the paramedic profession was passed last December, and came into force on June 22. The regulation establishes, among other things, a self-government of paramedics, which grants them the right to practice the profession. According to the provisions, graduates must hold a document of right to practice the profession, issued precisely by the self-government, which has not yet been established.

In a Twitter post, former Health Minister Bartosz Arlukowicz addressed concerns about this.

"If you met Minister Niedzielski somewhere out there on the road between Piła and Czarnków (district 38), tell him that he wrote a law that excludes from work all paramedics in Poland. I'm just throwing this in," Arlukovich wrote.

In response, the current head of the health ministry explained that emergency workers can practice their profession for two years on the basis of a diploma.

"If you met an overly excited Mr. Arlukovich somewhere out there, tell him that lifeguards can practice their profession on the basis of a diploma of graduation within 2 years from the date of entry into force of the law without obtaining a PWZ and registration," wrote Adam Niedzielski.

The Ministry of Health published on Tuesday on its website information on how paramedics who obtained their professional title after the date of entry into force of the Law on the Profession of Paramedic and the Self-Government of Paramedics acquire the right to practice their profession. We publish the content of the information below:

In accordance with the provisions of Article 218 of the Law of December 1, 2022, on the profession of paramedic and the paramedics' self-government (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 2705), persons who, on the effective date of the aforementioned law (June 22, 2023), meet the cumulative conditions set forth in Article 2, items 1-4, viz:

1) have full legal capacity;

2) have the health status to practice as a paramedic;

3) have knowledge of the Polish language, both spoken and written, to the extent necessary to practice as a paramedic;

4) Meet the following requirements, among others:

(a) began before October 1, 2019 to study in the field (specialty) of emergency medicine or medical emergency medicine and obtained a bachelor's or master's degree in this field (this specialty) or

(b) have commenced, after the 2018/2019 academic year, a course of study preparing to practice as a paramedic, conducted in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to Article 68(3)(1) of the Act of July 20, 2018. - Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2022, item 574, as amended), and have obtained a professional degree of bachelor's or master's degree, or

(c) began before March 1, 2013 studying in a public post-secondary school or a non-public post-secondary school with the rights of a public school and obtained a diploma confirming the attainment of the professional title of paramedic or a diploma confirming professional qualifications in the profession of paramedic, (...)

become paramedics as defined by the Act and are entitled to practice their profession.

Thus, the provision of Article 218(1) of the Law on the Medical Rescue Profession and the Medical Rescuers' Self-Government also applies to those who began their studies preparing to practice as a medical rescuer after the 2018/2019 academic year and obtained a bachelor's or master's degree after June 22, 2023 (meeting the condition in Article 2(4)(b) of the Law).

Persons who, on June 22, 2023 (the date of entry into force of the Law on the Profession of Medical Rescuer and the Medical Rescuer's Self-Government), pursued training in the field of medical rescue, after obtaining a bachelor's degree, may practice the profession on the basis of a graduation diploma within 2 years from the date of entry into force of the Law without obtaining the document "Right to practice as a medical rescuer" and registration.

The referenced regulation on the authority to practice the profession is not new and precedent-setting. Alogic regulation applied to the profession of physiotherapist (Article 143 in conjunction with Article 13(1)(1-5) of the Law of September 25, 2015 on the profession of physiotherapist).