Key Polish phrases for healthcare
| Polish phrase | Pronunciation | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Chcę się zarejestrować do lekarza | Htseh sheh zah-reh-YES-troh-vatch doh leh-KAH-zhah | "I want to register with a doctor" |
| Chcę umówić wizytę | Htseh oo-MOO-vitch VEE-zi-teh | "I want to book an appointment" |
| Mam ubezpieczenie NFZ | Mam oo-bes-pye-CHEN-yeh en-ef-ZET | "I have NFZ health insurance" |
| Potrzebuję skierowanie | Pot-sheh-BOO-yeh skye-roh-VAH-nyeh | "I need a referral" — to see a specialist |
| Boli mnie… | BOH-lee mnyeh | "I have pain in…" — e.g. "Boli mnie głowa" = headache |
| Mam alergię na… | Mam ah-LER-gyeh nah | "I am allergic to…" — e.g. penicillin |
| Proszę o receptę | PROH-sheh oh re-TSEP-teh | "Please give me a prescription" |
| Gdzie jest apteka? | GJeh yest ap-TEH-kah? | "Where is the pharmacy?" |
| Proszę wezwać pogotowie! | PROH-sheh vez-VATCH poh-goh-TOH-vyeh! | "Please call an ambulance!" — emergency |
| To nagły przypadek | Toh NAG-wih PSHY-pah-dek | "This is an emergency" |
| Polish phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Czy to jest dostępne bez recepty? | Chih toh yest dos-TEMP-neh bez re-TSEP-tih? | "Is this available without a prescription?" |
| Mam receptę | Mam re-TSEP-teh | "I have a prescription" |
| Lek na ból głowy | Lek nah bool GWOH-vih | "Medicine for headache" |
| Lek na gorączkę | Lek nah goh-RONCH-keh | "Medicine for fever" |
| Lek na kaszel | Lek nah KAH-shel | "Medicine for cough" |
Step 1 — Register with NFZ
NFZ (en-ef-ZET) = Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (nah-roh-DOH-vih FOON-doosh ZDRO-vyah) — National Health Fund.
If employed
Your employer enrols you automatically through ZUS (ZUS = ZOO-s, social insurance). You are covered from day 1. Ask HR for your ZUS confirmation.
If a student
Your university registers you. Visit the dziekanat (jeh-KAH-nat = university admin office) with your student ID.
Self-employed or between jobs
Register voluntarily at any NFZ branch — oddział NFZ (OD-jow en-ef-ZET). Monthly contribution ~600 PLN. Bring passport, PESEL, and proof of address.
Step 2 — Choose a GP (Lekarz Pierwszego Kontaktu)
Lekarz Pierwszego Kontaktu (LEH-kazh pyer-VSHEH-go KON-tak-too) = primary care doctor. You must declare one after NFZ registration. Free, changeable up to 3 times a year.
- Go to any NFZ-contracted clinic — przychodnia (pshi-KHOD-nyah)
- Ask to fill in "Deklaracja wyboru lekarza" (dek-lah-RATS-yah VY-boh-roo leh-KAH-zhah) = declaration of choice of doctor
- Bring your PESEL and NFZ/ZUS confirmation
- Your GP can give you a skierowanie (skye-roh-VAH-nyeh = referral) to see a specialist
Private clinics — faster, costs money
Medicover
Largest private network. Monthly subscription from ~200 PLN covering unlimited GP + many specialists. English-speaking doctors available. medicover.pl →
LuxMed
Often offered by employers as a benefit — benefit pracowniczy (BEH-neh-feet pra-tsov-NEE-chih). Individual plans also available. luxmed.pl →
One-off private visits
GP without subscription: 100–200 PLN. Specialist: 150–400 PLN. Dental — dentysta (den-TIS-tah): 100–300 PLN per visit.
Emergency — what to do
- Life-threatening emergency: Call 112 — works without SIM credit. Say "ambulance" — operators speak basic English.
- Hospital A&E: Go to SOR — Szpitalny Oddział Ratunkowy (shpee-TAL-nih OD-jow rah-toon-KOH-vih). Emergency care is free for everyone.
- Night/weekend GP: Look for "nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna" (NOTS-nah ee shvyon-TECH-nah oh-PYEH-kah zdro-VOT-nah) = night and holiday health care. Free with NFZ.
Useful official links
📅 Last updated: June 2025. If you notice outdated information, please use the suggest button.