Antoni Przechrzta, M.A. - Poland
Abstract of the presentation
Complementary Meets Conventional: Poland’s Journey Toward Integrated Medicine – Challenges and Achievements in a Global Context
Branch: Spiritual Healing
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) plays an increasingly important role in public health worldwide. In Poland, the development of CAM has faced significant challenges, including legal uncertainty, marginalization by conventional medical institutions, and a lack of will for systemic integration. Despite this, professional organizations, ethical codes, and practitioner training programs have developed, bringing structure and credibility to the field. The WHO has called for the integration of TCM into national health systems, but implementation remains limited.
In Poland, CAM was historically practiced openly—coexisting with academic medicine and, in some areas, supported by universities and medical chambers. However, after Poland’s EU accession in 2004, many remedies and therapies were excluded due to strict pharmaceutical regulations favoring large international corporations. Efforts to integrate CAM into the healthcare system include a 2018 legislative proposal I submitted to the Prime Minister, aiming to allow doctors to incorporate CAM methods with patient consent—without being penalized. Despite initial support, the proposal was never processed. Currently, physicians in Poland risk losing their licenses for using or recommending CAM therapies. More than 200 doctors are facing disciplinary proceedings for raising concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
Nonetheless, organizations such as the Polish Association of Spiritual Healers and citizen-led movements like STOPNOP, among others, continue to advocate for integrative and holistic medicine. The recent implementation of a new PKD (Polish Classification of Business Activities) code (86.96.Z) for traditional and complementary medicine, from January 2025 and aligned with EU classifications, confirms that this field has the right to exist and develop as part of international healthcare system. While integrative medicine in Poland still faces serious challenges, it offers great potential. Progress depends on open dialogue, clear regulations, respect for patient autonomy, and therapeutic diversity—goals that we, as TCIM practitioners and advocates, are actively working toward.
Curriculum vitae
Antoni Przechrzta (born 1960) Director, Institute for Realization of the Self (Instytut Realizacji Siebie), Warsaw, Poland Website: www.uzdrawianie.com – offering courses in healing, intuition, and self-development Founder and Chair, Polish Association of Spiritual Healers (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Duchowych Uzdrowicieli – psdu.pl) associated member of Confederation of Healing Organizations Facebook: Antoni Przechrzta | Instytut Realizacji Siebie Education: • MA in Fine Arts – Academy of Fine Arts, Kraków and the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna (1987) • Postgraduate Diploma in Sculpture – Royal Academy Schools, London (1994) • Healing Training Course – Spiritualist Association of Great Britain (SAGB), London (1993) • Teacher Training Certification – National Federation of Spiritual Healers (NFSH), UK (1998) Professional Background: Practicing healer since 1993 and international instructor of certified Spiritual Healing courses, preparing students for professional practice. Delivered "Introduction to Spiritual Healing" courses to medical students at Royal London Hospital Medical School, and conducts regular training in Poland. Conference Participation (Selection): Presented at national and international conferences on integrative, complementary, and psychosomatic medicine, including: • European Symposium of Somatotherapy and Psychosomatic Education, Medical University of Kraków (2005) • "Essence of Humanity – Human Truth and Civilization", University of Warmia and Mazury (2008) • "Psychiatry and Art" – International Scientific and Training Conference, Pedagogical University of Kraków (2013–2015) • "Patient-Friendly Medicine" Symposium, IPS and Polish Medical Association (2012) • "Advances in Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy", Institute of Psychosomatics, Warsaw (2013) • 4th British Congress on Medicine and Spirituality, London (2013) • 1st Congress on the Humanization of Medicine, University of Warsaw (2022) • 3rd World Health Congress, Prague (2023) • 4th Mental Health Congress, Warsaw (2024) and other events focused on bridging mainstream and holistic approaches in healthcare. Publishing articles, collaboration with: media -NTV, Polish Parliament, consulting with Ministry of Health, actively supporting holistic health advocacy groups and initiatives.
Please note that some of the texts also include machine-generated translations.
