Six hundred and eighteen doctors across various specialties — that is the number of medical professionals missing in the Polish Armed Forces. On average, one military doctor is responsible for 260–270 soldiers, whereas NATO standards require a ratio of 1 to 100. These figures come from the report “Restore Prestige, Retain Talent – A Strategy for Revitalizing the Medical Corps of the Polish Armed Forces”, prepared under the auspices of the Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute (WIM-PIB). Experts stress that the crisis is worsening due to a lack of career development prospects in the military medical corps, prompting many doctors to leave for civilian facilities. They call for comprehensive reforms to training and career pathways that could reverse the destructive trend within two to three years.
“Encouraging doctors to serve in the military is today the biggest challenge. If we compare what the Armed Forces currently offer doctors with the civilian market, the military loses that competition thoroughly and decisively,”
says Lieutenant General Prof. Grzegorz Gielerak, MD, Director of the Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute, in an interview with Newseria.
The “Restore Prestige, Retain Talent” report, prepared by an interdisciplinary expert team under WIM-PIB, reveals a profound staffing crisis in the military healthcare system. According to the authors, systemic inefficiencies permeate nearly every level — from an outdated training model and a demotivating pay structure to blurred lines of responsibility between military and civilian institutions. The consequences of this crisis go far beyond personnel shortages, creating a significant threat to the army’s medical readiness.
Only 59% of Positions Filled
Data on actual staffing levels illustrates the scale of the problem. Out of 1,506 positions designated for military doctors, only 888 are filled — just 59% of the target. According to experts, the shortage of 618 military physicians could severely weaken the operational capability of entire tactical formations numbering tens of thousands of soldiers.
“If we want to fill these positions and ensure that in the coming years we can rebuild the corps, we must fundamentally change our approach,”
says Gen. Gielerak.
Alarmingly Low Retention Among Military Medical Students
A worrying trend emerges from surveys conducted among students at the Military-Medical College of the Medical University of Łódź. Only 41% intend to continue military service after graduation, while 28% remain undecided. Nearly one in three plans to leave the army altogether. Notably, this intention is most common among final-year students — which, according to the report, suggests that motivation drops as students approach professional service.
“We don’t have a problem attracting candidates to study medicine. At the Military-Medical College, there are four to six applicants per place,”
notes Gielerak.
“The crisis begins once they enter professional military service — especially after completing their specialization, when they become the most valuable resource for the Armed Forces. Most specialists, seeing no career prospects in the Polish military, leave. We are losing exactly the people we need most.”
71% of Military Doctors Are Still in Training
One indicator of this structural issue is that 71% of military doctors are undergoing specialization. Several factors influence the decision to leave the service — finances among them. The report shows that military doctors earn 4–19% less than the statutory minimum wage in the public healthcare system. While discouraging, only 13% of young military doctors cite pay as a major systemic barrier. Far more — 44% — identify excessive non-medical duties as the main reason for dissatisfaction.
“Over 80% of military doctors say the key factor influencing whether they continue their career is the ability to develop professionally — either during specialization or through advanced training for those already specialized. Here, the army has failed to build a competitive offer compared with the civilian sector, despite having enormous training capabilities, especially considering access to NATO allied resources,”
Gielerak emphasizes.
Undertrained for Military Operations
Thirty-eight percent of officer-doctors rate their preparedness for military operations as insufficient. According to the report, this results from a widespread misuse of human capital. Highly qualified specialists perform routine administrative work instead of refining clinical skills, participating in tactical training, or renewing battlefield medicine certifications.
“A clearly defined, 25-year career path for military doctors — based on domestic and international training — could outperform the civilian market. It is time we start using these possibilities,”
Gielerak says.
A Proposed 25-Year Integrated Career Path
The report outlines an integrated 25-year career trajectory — from entry into service through training and specialization, followed by a period of intensive military-medical practice, and finally advancement to leadership and expert roles before retirement. According to the proposal, the first six to nine years should focus on obtaining a medical specialization. The authors recommend adopting motivational tools proven in the U.S. Army, such as a one-time financial bonus of 50,000–70,000 PLN linked to a contract requiring at least six years of service, with repayment of a proportional amount if the officer leaves early.
“Obtaining a medical specialization opens a wide spectrum of professional development opportunities: access to advanced NATO training programs, participation in international medical missions, and the ability to assume leadership roles in clinical teams, supervise the training of junior staff, and help shape the military medical doctrine,”
the proposal states.
