The European Commission has clarified that it does not dictate Poland's hospital bed numbers or maternity ward closures, responding to concerns that EU recommendations were driving healthcare restructuring. In a recent reply to MEP Kosma Złotowski (ECR), Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi emphasized that the organisation of health systems remains a national competence under Article 168(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, and the Commission's role is limited to providing technical support, funding, and policy advice.
This follows a series of similar clarifications by the Commission on health-related sovereignty. On April 13, Commissioner Lahbib defended Member States' authority over conscientious objection in health services, pushing back against federalist standardisation efforts. Earlier, on April 15, Commissioner Várhelyi himself clarified EU spending on tobacco studies, reaffirming Member State competencies in tobacco control. The Commission has consistently stressed that health policy decisions rest with national governments.
The controversy arose after Polish Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda stated that the Commission had long indicated Poland has "too many hospital beds," sparking fears of mandated cuts and maternity ward closures. Várhelyi's response cites the 2025 Polish country report under the European Semester, which notes Poland's relatively high hospital bed density—6.3 per 1000 people versus the EU average of 5.1—and low occupancy rates. However, the report does not explicitly call for closing maternity wards or reducing beds; it offers data-driven analysis to encourage optimisation.
This approach mirrors the Commission's broader strategy of using evidence-based advice rather than top-down mandates. On April 13, Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu targeted 'gold-plating' of EU environmental rules to balance food security, while on April 15, Commissioner von der Leyen pushed for inclusive NCD healthcare access for migrants, both respecting national sovereignty. The Commission's stance on Poland's healthcare reaffirms that any restructuring decisions are for Warsaw to make, informed by EU analytical insights but not dictated by Brussels.
For Polish health authorities, the response affirms their control over hospital network decisions but invites self-reflection on resource allocation. Healthcare workers and maternity service users may worry about closures arising from national choices, not Commission orders. The EU maintains its advisory role without new enforcement burdens. The Commission will continue monitoring and encouraging evidence-based policy, but substantive changes remain in Polish hands.
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