Deputy Minister of the Interior and Administration: We will tighten criminal liability for disturbing public order in hospitals

In the wake of recent patient attacks on medics, the safety of healthcare workers was discussed in the Sejm. MPs asked representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration about a schedule of actions aimed at protecting staff from aggressive patients.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Czesław Mroczek recalled that, on the initiative of the Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna, an inter-ministerial team was established in January, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

A review of existing legal regulations has been initiated, which has resulted in, among others, the regulations contained in the amendment to the Act on State Emergency Medical Services, adopted by the Sejm a few days ago.

- The act is waiting for the president's signature. Among other things, changes have been introduced that allow for the creation and financing of three-person medical rescue teams. The regulations guarantee psychological support, oblige rescuers to take self-defense and de-escalation techniques courses once every five years - explained Mroczek, adding that actions have been taken to increase the safety of all medical personnel.

The deputy minister emphasized that the police had already begun training rescuers in self-defense. He calculated that since March, nearly 90 such trainings have been organized throughout the country, with over 1,000 people participating.

- By December 2026, the police are committed to training approximately 15,000 paramedics. In addition, the Ministry of Health coordinates training for medical dispatchers, during which situations that may affect the safety of members of medical rescue teams are discussed - Mroczek explained.

- Another initiative implemented was the issuance by the Chief of Police of an order to provincial commanders to treat all interventions related to paramedics as urgent, and to immediately direct forces and resources appropriate to the event to carry them out, in order to provide immediate assistance - he added.

He indicated that actions are being taken regarding further changes to the law regarding the provisions of the Petty Offences Code.

- The changes will concern solutions that tighten the criminal liability of the perpetrator of an act consisting in disturbing public order committed on the premises of a healthcare facility , whose act will be of a hooligan nature or the perpetrator will commit it under the influence of alcohol, a narcotic or a substance with a similar effect. The justification for extending the grounds for applying the accelerated procedure in these cases is also being analyzed - explained Czesław Mroczek, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Interior and Administration.

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