Where to go when you are ill
- Weekdays, daytime — your family doctor (lekarz rodzinny, POZ) at your clinic.
- Nights, weekends and public holidays — night and holiday care (nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna), open 18:00–8:00 on weekdays and round the clock at weekends and on holidays (pacjent.gov.pl).
- Not sure where the nearest point is? Call the free 24-hour NFZ line 800 190 590 (NFZ).
- Life-threatening situations — 112, 999 or the SOR.
NFZ-funded care is for people with health insurance, typically through an employment contract. Check your status with your employer or the NFZ.
Booking an appointment
Dzień dobry, chciałbym / chciałabym umówić się na wizytę do lekarza rodzinnego. · Czy jest wolny termin dzisiaj albo jutro? · Czy mogę przyjść bez skierowania?("Good morning, I would like to book an appointment with a family doctor. Is there a slot today or tomorrow? Can I come without a referral?") Reception may ask for your PESEL and ID. If you do not follow, ask: «Przepraszam, o co Pani pyta?» ("Sorry, what are you asking?").
Describing symptoms
Keep it short: what hurts, since when, what you have taken, any allergies. «Boli mnie…» ("my … hurts") works for any part of the body.
Boli mnie głowa / gardło / brzuch. · Mam gorączkę od dwóch dni. · Mam katar i kaszel. · Kręci mi się w głowie. · Jestem uczulony / uczulona na penicylinę. · Biorę leki na nadciśnienie.(My head / throat / stomach hurts. I have had a fever for two days. I have a runny nose and a cough. I feel dizzy. I am allergic to penicillin. I take medication for high blood pressure.)
Questions about treatment
Jak często mam brać ten lek? · Przed jedzeniem czy po jedzeniu? · Czy potrzebuję skierowania do specjalisty? · Czy może Pan / Pani wystawić zwolnienie lekarskie?(How often should I take this medicine? Before or after meals? Do I need a referral to a specialist? Can you give me a sick note?) Do ask the doctor to write the dosage down: «Czy może Pan to zapisać?».
E-prescriptions: a code instead of paper
Prescriptions in Poland are electronic. You get an SMS with a four-digit code or an e-mail with a PDF — if you have added your phone or e-mail to your Internetowe Konto Pacjenta — or a printout from the doctor, or a notification in the mojeIKP app (pacjent.gov.pl). At the pharmacy you give the code and your PESEL; with mojeIKP you just show the QR code.
Vocabulary
| Polish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| przychodnia, rejestracja | clinic, reception desk |
| lekarz rodzinny (POZ) | family doctor (primary care) |
| skierowanie | referral |
| recepta, apteka | prescription, pharmacy |
| zwolnienie lekarskie (L4) | sick note |
| katar | runny nose |
| zapalenie (płuc, ucha) | inflammation (pneumonia, ear infection) |
| SOR | hospital emergency department |
If you are a doctor planning to work in Poland, general Polish is not enough — you need medical vocabulary and documentation. See medical Polish. Dealing with offices too? Read Polish at the urząd.
