Fines of up to PLN 1 million, public warnings and the power to immediately suspend dangerous practices are among the new tools that Poland’s Patient Rights Ombudsman would receive under legislation commonly referred to as the “anti-quackery law,” or lex szarlatan.
The new regulations are intended to protect patients from pseudomedicine. Opponents, however, fear that they could also affect the lawful activities of dietitians, naturopaths and therapists using complementary methods.
Law and healthcare
On 3 July 2026, the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament, passed an amendment to the Act on Patients’ Rights and the Patient Rights Ombudsman, widely known as lex szarlatan.
The legislation is intended to eliminate practices that are inconsistent with current medical knowledge from both the market and the internet. At the same time, it has triggered a debate over where the boundary should be drawn between pseudomedicine and legitimate complementary healthcare services.
What exactly would the law change?
The amendment would expand the powers of the Patient Rights Ombudsman by introducing enforcement tools that the office has not previously possessed.
The most important changes include:
- The Ombudsman would be authorised to issue public warnings when an entity engages in practices that could endanger patients.
- The Ombudsman would be able to issue interim decisions ordering the immediate suspension of a particular activity before the proceedings have been completed.
- The Ombudsman would have the right to request the initiation of civil proceedings concerning patients’ rights and to participate in such proceedings with powers similar to those of a public prosecutor.
- Registration in the Register of Entities Performing Medical Activities would become a condition for providing healthcare services.
- Financial penalties of up to PLN 1 million could be imposed for violations of the collective rights of patients.
- Penalties of up to PLN 100,000 could be imposed for failing to cooperate with the Ombudsman. These penalties could be imposed repeatedly if the violation continued.
- The names of penalised entities would be published in a public register.
- Herbal medicine would be regulated separately in order to distinguish legitimate phytotherapy from unqualified folk healing and fraudulent medical practices.
What would the law not cover?
In its current form, the legislation would not restrict activities such as herbalism, cosmetology, podiatry, yoga or massage in themselves.
The rules are intended to target situations in which unverified methods are falsely presented as having therapeutic effects or are promoted in a way that encourages patients to abandon diagnostic procedures or treatments consistent with current medical knowledge, including cancer treatment.
The government’s justification
During the parliamentary debate, supporters of the legislation referred to the case of a person with no medical qualifications who allegedly posed as a gynaecologist and performed procedures on patients’ uteruses. Some of the patients reportedly died.
The Patient Rights Ombudsman previously lacked the authority to intervene effectively in such cases.
Lawmakers also referred to situations in which patients abandoned cancer treatment in favour of methods with no scientifically confirmed effectiveness, such as bioresonance therapy.
Who is criticising the legislation, and why?
Opponents of the amendment, including the Confederation party and representatives of naturopaths, acupuncturists, homeopaths and the dietary supplement industry, primarily argue that the definition of “pseudomedicine” is too broad.
In their view, it could cover not only fraudsters but also people lawfully providing complementary medicine, health coaching or natural therapy services.
Critics have also raised concerns that the legislation could restrict patients’ freedom to choose their preferred approaches to health and wellbeing.
Dietitians have raised a separate concern. Although the legislation does not explicitly mention their profession, the definition of pseudomedical practices could potentially cover dietary treatment of diseases or the therapeutic use of supplements.
This creates legal uncertainty, at least until the profession of dietitian is formally regulated.
The next stages of the legislative process
The legislation has been submitted to the Senate. Should the Senate introduce amendments, the bill will return to the Sejm.
It will then be sent to President Karol Nawrocki, who will decide whether to sign it into law, refer it to the Constitutional Tribunal or veto it.
As of the publication date, there has been no clear indication of what decision the president will take.
Some sources suggest that the legislation could enter into force on 1 September 2026. Others refer to a standard three-month vacatio legis beginning on the date of publication in the Journal of Laws.
The exact effective date will therefore depend on the remaining stages of the legislative process.
Key conclusions
- The legislation would not prohibit herbal medicine, massage, yoga, cosmetology or podiatry as such.
- The key issue would be whether unverified methods are presented as having therapeutic effects without a scientific basis.
- The Patient Rights Ombudsman would receive powers similar to those of a public prosecutor, as well as the authority to issue interim decisions and impose penalties of up to PLN 1 million.
- The legislation is awaiting consideration by the Senate and subsequently by the president. Its final wording and effective date have not yet been determined.
Sources: Rzeczpospolita, Do Rzeczy, RMF24, Nowin.pl, Dietetycy.org.pl and NaturaZdrowie.com. Original analysis based on media reports and the course of parliamentary proceedings.
