The Ombudsman has received a request from human rights organizations and institutions to intervene in the matter of extending the right to provide psychological services to psychologists from Ukraine without the need to nostrify their diplomas. The Ombudsman is intervening with Pavel Szefernaker, deputy head of the Interior Ministry and government plenipotentiary for war refugees from Ukraine.
Psychologists from Ukraine have lost their right to practice in Poland
Published Oct. 3, 2023 08:21
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According to Article 64a of the Law of March 12, 2022 on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in Connection with the Armed Conflict on the Territory of Ukraine, from February 24, 2022, for a period of 18 months, a citizen of Ukraine residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland during the period of stay in accordance with the applicable legislation, in the cases referred to in Article 22 (1), holding a diploma obtained in Ukraine:
- unified studies in the field of psychology or
- First degree diploma in psychology and second degree diploma in psychology
- completed with the professional title of specialist in the field of psychology or master's degree in the field of psychology, may provide psychological services to citizens of Ukraine residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland, including may provide health care services in the field of psychiatric care and addiction treatment.
Entitlements under the law expired on August 24, 2023.
The reported demand was recognized by the legislature and taken into account in the Law on the Principles of the State Treasury's Guarantee for the Obligations of the National Energy Security Agency. According to it, in Article 64a of the Law on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine, "18 months" was changed to "25 months."
Thus, the legislator has provided for an extension by another 7 months of the possibility for Ukrainian citizens to provide psychological services without the need for nostrification. This change responds to the consistently high demand for psychological care and is eagerly awaited by a number of organizations, as well as psychologists from Ukraine themselves.
The bill passed by the Diet was rejected by the Senate on August 17, 2023. However, this Senate resolution was not submitted to the Diet for deliberation. This means that the right to provide psychological services has expired.
Deputy ROP Stanislaw Trociuk presents this problem to Minister. Pavel Szefernaker with a request to address the possibility of solving it.
Source: RPO
