A 500 PLN fine for MPs' absence from the Health Committee. The coalition lost the vote on the National Health Fund budget.

• The Parliamentary Health Committee issued a negative opinion on the draft financial plan of the National Health Fund.
• Thanks to a clever move, the opposition won the vote by taking advantage of the absence of coalition MPs.
• Three absent MPs from the Civic Coalition - Elżbieta Polak, Krzysztof Bojarski, Adrian Witczak - were fined
• Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski "conducted a disciplinary conversation" with MP Radosław Lubczyk from the Polish People's Party

At the request of the chairwoman of the Health Committee, Marta Golbik, the Civic Coalition's discipline committee was convened on Wednesday evening.

"Three people who were absent received fines of PLN 500. MP Elżbieta Polak and MP Adrian Witczak provided valid reasons for their absence, but they are still facing consequences because this is a serious matter," Tomasz Nowak, the Civic Coalition's disciplinary spokesman, told Rynek Zdrowia.

"In the case of MP Krzysztof Bojarski, we don't know the reason for his absence, as he is not attending this session of the Sejm. We are investigating why," he added.

Members of Parliament have the right to appeal against the Ombudsman's decision.

The fourth absent member of parliament from the committee was MP Radosław Lubczyk from PSL - Trzecia Droga.

"Marshal Zgorzelski held a disciplinary meeting with MP Lubczyk. I don't know the details of a possible punishment at this time," says Anna Pawlicka-Bazyluk, media coordinator for the Polish People's Party - Third Way.

As a reminder, during its Wednesday morning session (July 9), the Parliamentary Health Committee issued a negative opinion on the National Health Fund's financial plan for 2026. The opposition cleverly won the vote, taking advantage of the absence of coalition MPs.

During the debate, committee vice-chair Katarzyna Sójka (PiS) calculated her numbers, signaling to party colleague Janusz Cieszyński that she had an advantage. He, fourth in the discussion, first criticized the bill and then moved to close the debate and hold a final vote on the plan. With a majority in the chamber at the time, the opposition defeated the coalition 19-16.