Warsaw hospital audit lands on Trzaskowski's desk as 21 KO politicians quit party over scandal
Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski received the long-awaited audit of the Southern Hospital on Monday and will present its findings on Wednesday, as the fallout from the scandal forces 21 Civic Coalition members to choose between party and city jobs.
Audit delivered, findings imminent
Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski confirmed on Monday, 3 August, that the audit of the Southern Hospital had reached his desk. He intends to present its conclusions and recommendations on Wednesday, 5 August. The audit was ordered after June revelations about Dawid Kacprzyk, a doctor and then Civic Coalition (KO) councilor, whose earnings and alleged preferential treatment of party colleagues triggered a political crisis.
Audyt wpłynął w poniedziałek na moje ręce, zapoznam się z nim i prawdopodobnie w środę zaprezentuję wnioski, które z tego audytu płyną, a także rekomendacje.
The city has also commissioned audits of emergency departments and morgues in other municipal hospitals, and the National Health Fund (NFZ) and National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) are conducting their own inspections.
The scandal's origins
Portal Zero.pl first reported on 15 June that Kacprzyk, while still in anaesthesiology specialization, earned 1.6 million PLN in 2025 as ER coordinator at the Southern Hospital. The portal also described a system in which KO politicians were admitted without queues and received comprehensive tests almost immediately after registration. Kacprzyk resigned from KO and his Ursus district council seat after the story broke, and returned 500,000 PLN to the hospital.
- Portal Zero.pl publishes revelations about Dawid Kacprzyk's earnings and preferential treatment for KO politicians.
- Hospital fires morgue coordinator Artur Habowski with immediate effect over corpse trading allegations.
- Deadline for politicians in city companies to choose between party membership and board positions.
- Audit of Southern Hospital delivered to Mayor Trzaskowski; ultimatum results announced: 14 management board members leave party, 7 supervisory board members leave party, 20 leave boards.
- Trzaskowski to present audit conclusions and recommendations.
Criminal probes and NIK findings
Two prosecutor-led investigations were launched on 3 August. One concerns fraud exceeding half a million PLN; the other targets abuse of power by a public official. The Supreme Medical Chamber is running its own disciplinary proceeding. Separately, the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) published a report confirming numerous irregularities in the hospital's management, work organisation, NFZ billing, and use of premises. The morgue scandal added another layer: former coordinator Artur Habowski was fired on 2 July with immediate effect, and prosecutors are examining possible managerial bribery and desecration of a corpse.
Political ultimatum reshapes city boards
In late June, Trzaskowski gave politicians in city-owned companies until the end of July to choose between party membership and their board seats. On 3 August he announced the results: all 14 party members in management boards resigned from KO to keep their jobs. Of 27 supervisory board members, 7 left the party and stayed, while 20 gave up their board seats and remained in KO. In total, 21 people left the party. Among those who chose their corporate roles are Jan Kuźmiński (MZA), Konrad Niklewicz (Tramwaje Warszawskie), Robert Rafałowski (Kopernik medical centre), Karolina Zdrodowska (MPRI), Maciej Wyszyński (MPO), and Piotr Zalewski (Metro Warszawskie).
W zarządach spółek miejskich mieliśmy 14 osób, które były członkami partii. Wszyscy zrezygnowali z partii i dalej będą pracować w spółkach. W radach nadzorczych było 27 takich osób - siedem pozostało w radach nadzorczych, 20 osób pozostało w partii i zrezygnowało z zasiadania w radach.
- Management boards – left party
- 14 people
- Supervisory boards – left party
- 7 people
- Supervisory boards – left boards
- 20 people
Former president breaks silence
Anna Łukasik, who served as hospital president from 1 April 2025, told Onet.pl that on her first day Kacprzyk told her he "pilnuje szpitala w imieniu Rafała Trzaskowskiego" (guards the hospital on behalf of Rafał Trzaskowski). She initially dismissed it as a joke but later observed his close ties with deputy mayor Renata Kaznowska and other city hall officials. Kacprzyk repeatedly invited her to private dinners Kaznowska held with hospital directors; she never attended. Łukasik said she knew his hourly rate of 330 PLN was higher than other doctors' because of his coordinator role, but noted that rates of 450–600 PLN exist elsewhere. After journalists inquired, Kacprzyk claimed he had left the hospital twice with permission, then transferred 500,000 PLN to the hospital as a "wage adjustment". Łukasik subsequently filed a notice with prosecutors.
Pierwszego dnia pracy powiedział mi, że "pilnuje szpitala w imieniu Rafała Trzaskowskiego". Najpierw odebrałam to jako żart. Później zobaczyłam, że utrzymywał bliskie relacje z wiceprezydent Warszawy Renatą Kaznowską i innymi urzędnikami stołecznego ratusza.
What comes next
Trzaskowski's Wednesday presentation is expected to detail systemic failures and propose reforms. The two vice-mayors who resigned earlier have not been replaced, and the hospital's management and supervisory board were dismissed immediately after the scandal broke. With NFZ, PIP, and NIK all scrutinising municipal health facilities, further personnel changes and tighter oversight rules are likely. The political cost for KO in Warsaw remains uncertain, but the forced separation of party and corporate roles marks a structural shift in how the city governs its assets.
