Best Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinics in Katowice: Specialist ILD Care and How to Get Referred

Finding specialist care can be important when pulmonary fibrosis or another interstitial lung disease (ILD) is suspected or has already been identified. ILD includes many different conditions, and distinguishing between them can require specialist imaging, lung-function testing, laboratory investigations, and input from several medical specialties.

Katowice has pulmonology services that can provide respiratory assessment and referral. However, the clearest dedicated ILD service in the immediate Katowice area is in nearby Zabrze, where the pulmonary department of the Medical University of Silesia explicitly covers idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and several other interstitial lung diseases.

The options below are not ranked from best to worst. There is no authoritative citywide ranking of pulmonary fibrosis clinics. The most useful route depends on whether you need an initial pulmonology assessment, more specialized ILD diagnostics, hospital-based respiratory care, or another specialist service.

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Key Takeaways

• Katowickie Centrum Onkologii has a dedicated lung diseases clinic and hospital pulmonary department in Katowice.
• For clearly documented specialist ILD expertise, SPSK No. 1 in nearby Zabrze explicitly covers IPF, sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, drug-related lung changes, and lung involvement associated with rheumatic diseases.
• Advanced respiratory facilities in Zabrze include CT, lung-function testing, bronchoscopy, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
• An NFZ-funded pulmonology consultation generally requires an e-referral, and you can choose an NFZ-contracted clinic outside the city where you live.
• mama health can help you find specialists nearby, organize questions and records, understand labs, prescriptions, and reports in clearer language, and turn what you record into a structured report for your doctor's appointment.

Why can specialist ILD care be important?

Specialist ILD care can bring together the different types of information needed to determine which interstitial lung disease is being considered.

Pulmonary fibrosis describes scarring of lung tissue rather than one single disease. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is one specific form.

Other fibrosing ILDs can occur alongside connective-tissue diseases, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, sarcoidosis, certain medicines, occupational exposures, environmental exposures, and other conditions.

The distinction matters because the investigations and treatment options considered can differ according to the specific ILD.

International guidance for IPF and progressive pulmonary fibrosis emphasizes the importance of radiological, clinical, and, when relevant, pathological information. Multidisciplinary expertise can be particularly valuable when the diagnosis is uncertain.

For a broader introduction, read mama health's guide to pulmonary fibrosis.

Which pulmonary fibrosis clinics should you consider in Katowice?

Katowice has pulmonology services that can provide respiratory assessment, while nearby Zabrze has a hospital department with clearly documented specialist ILD expertise.

It is useful to distinguish between a general lung clinic and a tertiary ILD service. Public information does not support describing every pulmonology clinic in Katowice as a dedicated pulmonary fibrosis centre.

Katowickie Centrum Onkologii — Poradnia Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc

Katowickie Centrum Onkologii provides specialist pulmonology appointments and access to further hospital respiratory investigations in Katowice.

Its Poradnia Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc is staffed by specialists in lung diseases. The clinic states that further investigation can be provided through its hospital Pulmonary Diseases Department when required.

The hospital department has access to CT and other imaging, bronchoscopy, EBUS with mediastinal biopsy, laboratory testing, and histopathology. Its official information was updated in 2026.

The outpatient clinic requires a referral and also asks for a chest X-ray when attending. Current registration is available through the hospital's booking systems and call centre.

The centre's public pages do not describe the same dedicated ILD scope that is explicitly published by the specialist department in nearby Zabrze. It is therefore more accurate to consider this a local pulmonology and diagnostic route rather than label it a dedicated IPF centre.

Location: ul. Raciborska 27, 40-074 Katowice

Why consider it: specialist lung consultations in Katowice, hospital pulmonary services, CT access, bronchoscopy, and a route to further respiratory investigations.

SPSK No. 1 of the Medical University of Silesia — Zabrze

Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny Nr 1 im. prof. Stanisława Szyszko Śląskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach is the clearest nearby specialist option for ILD and pulmonary fibrosis based on its published clinical scope.

Although the hospital is in Zabrze rather than Katowice itself, it is part of the Medical University of Silesia and is particularly relevant when dedicated ILD expertise is needed.

Its Pulmonology Department explicitly lists:

• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Drug-related interstitial lung changes
• Pulmonary complications associated with rheumatic diseases

The department also has a pulmonary function laboratory, bronchoscopy facilities, X-ray and CT services, respiratory support facilities, and a pulmonary rehabilitation subunit. It conducts respiratory research and clinical studies as part of its academic role.

This makes Zabrze particularly relevant when an ILD has not yet been clearly classified or when more specialized investigation is being discussed.

Location: ul. 3-go Maja 13–15, 41-800 Zabrze

Why consider it: explicit IPF and ILD expertise, pulmonary function testing, CT, bronchoscopy, respiratory rehabilitation, and academic respiratory care.

Are all pulmonology clinics in Katowice pulmonary fibrosis centres?

No. A clinic offering pulmonology consultations should not automatically be described as a specialist pulmonary fibrosis or ILD centre.

Katowice has several NFZ and private pulmonology services. These can be useful for respiratory assessment, referrals, spirometry, and general lung questions.

However, public listings often describe them simply as Poradnia Chorób Płuc or pulmonology clinics. They do not always state that they have dedicated experience with IPF, progressive pulmonary fibrosis, multidisciplinary ILD assessment, or fibrosis-specific pathways.

For that reason, this article does not label every pulmonology clinic in Katowice as a specialist ILD centre.

When contacting a clinic, useful questions can include:

• Does the service regularly assess interstitial lung diseases?
• Is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis part of its specialist work?
• Can previous HRCT images be reviewed?
• Is DLCO testing available?
• Is multidisciplinary ILD review available or coordinated elsewhere?
• Does the clinic work with rheumatology when autoimmune-associated ILD is suspected?
• Where are more specialized ILD investigations referred if needed?
• Does the service provide access to pulmonary rehabilitation?

These questions can help clarify the scope of the service without assuming that every respiratory clinic offers the same expertise.

How do you get referred to a pulmonologist in Katowice?

An NFZ-funded pulmonology appointment generally requires an e-referral.

Official Polish guidance states that e-referrals can be issued for specialist appointments funded through NFZ. Pulmonology is not included among the specialties that can generally be accessed without a referral.

After receiving the e-referral, you can register it with an NFZ-contracted specialist clinic.

There is no general regional restriction. This means you can choose an appropriate contracted clinic outside your town of residence, which can be important when looking for more specialized ILD expertise in nearby Zabrze.

The referral can normally be registered with one specialist clinic at a time.

Registration usually requires the e-referral code and PESEL. The exact booking process depends on the clinic.

Can a doctor in Katowice refer you to an ILD specialist in Zabrze?

Yes. An appropriate NFZ referral can be used to choose a contracted specialist clinic outside Katowice.

Polish specialist outpatient care does not generally require you to attend a clinic in the same city where you live. Official guidance states that you may choose an NFZ-contracted specialist clinic that matches the specialty on your referral.

This means someone starting with a pulmonologist in Katowice may be able to use a specialist referral route in Zabrze when more focused ILD expertise is relevant.

Hospital admission, rehabilitation, national drug programmes, and other specialist pathways can involve additional documentation or qualification procedures.

If you already know that an ILD centre is the goal, it can be useful to contact the centre before booking and ask which referral type and records it requires.

What if pulmonary fibrosis has not been confirmed yet?

A specialist respiratory assessment can be useful when a CT scan or symptoms raise the possibility of ILD but the exact diagnosis remains uncertain.

Pulmonary fibrosis cannot be classified from one symptom alone.

A specialist assessment can consider several pieces of information together, including:

• High-resolution CT findings
• Previous CT scans
• Spirometry
• FVC
• DLCO
• Exercise capacity
• Blood test results
• Autoimmune symptoms
• Current and previous medicines
• Work history
• Exposure to dust, fumes, mould, birds, or other substances
• Other respiratory conditions
• Relevant family history

Depending on what remains unclear, bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, cryobiopsy, or another form of tissue sampling may sometimes be considered.

These procedures are not required for everyone.

Current international guidance recognizes transbronchial lung cryobiopsy as a possible alternative to surgical lung biopsy in appropriately experienced centres in selected diagnostic situations.

For more background before an appointment, read mama health's guide to common signs associated with fibrotic lung disease.

What tests can a specialist ILD centre provide?

Specialist ILD assessment often combines imaging and several types of respiratory testing rather than relying on one result.

The Zabrze pulmonary department publicly lists a pulmonary function laboratory as well as X-ray and CT facilities. It also has specialist bronchoscopy services.

Tests commonly used during ILD assessment can include:

• HRCT: provides detailed images of patterns within the lung tissue.
• Spirometry: measures airflow and lung volumes, including FVC.
• DLCO: provides information about gas transfer from the lungs into the blood.
• Six-minute walk testing: provides information about functional exercise capacity and oxygen response during activity.
• Blood tests: can help investigate autoimmune or inflammatory causes.
• Bronchoscopy: may be considered when additional information from the airways or lung tissue is needed.

The appropriate combination depends on the medical question being investigated.

For more detail about one specific fibrosing condition, see mama health's guide to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

What treatment options can pulmonary fibrosis specialists discuss?

Treatment options depend on the specific type of pulmonary fibrosis or ILD rather than fibrosis being treated as one condition.

For IPF, antifibrotic medicines are part of current evidence-based care. For progressive pulmonary fibrosis associated with other ILDs, treatment depends on the underlying disease and the pattern of progression. Current international guidance includes a conditional recommendation for nintedanib in progressive pulmonary fibrosis after standard approaches for the underlying ILD have been considered.

Other forms of ILD may involve different medicines, particularly when autoimmune or inflammatory disease is involved.

Specialist respiratory care can also include pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy when clinically indicated, evaluation of associated conditions, and discussion of transplantation assessment in selected circumstances.

Current Polish reimbursement programmes and eligibility requirements can change. Confirm programme availability and qualification requirements directly with the specialist centre.

What should you bring to an ILD appointment?

Organized medical records can make it easier to explain what has happened so far and remember the questions you want to discuss.

Depending on your history, useful information may include:

• Previous chest CT scans, including the original image files when available
• CT and X-ray reports
• Previous spirometry results
• FVC and DLCO results
• Six-minute walk test results
• Hospital discharge summaries
• Current prescriptions
• A list of medicines previously taken
• Relevant laboratory results
• Autoimmune or rheumatology investigations
• Previous bronchoscopy reports
• Pathology reports if tissue sampling has already taken place
• Information about occupational exposures
• Information about mould, birds, dust, fumes, or chemicals
• A short timeline of changes you want to remember

You can also prepare questions such as:

• What type of ILD is being considered?
• What does the pattern on my CT report describe?
• Can my older scans be compared with the latest images?
• What do my FVC and DLCO results show?
• Are additional investigations being considered?
• Would multidisciplinary review be relevant?
• Could pulmonary rehabilitation be relevant to discuss?
• Which changes would be useful for me to record before the next appointment?

These are examples for preparing a discussion. They do not determine which tests or treatment options are appropriate.

What can the experience of others with pulmonary fibrosis add?

Experiences shared by others can surface everyday questions that may not appear in an imaging report or lung-function result.

Pulmonary fibrosis can raise questions about coughing, breathlessness, fatigue, sleep, exercise, work, appointments, medicines, and ordinary activities.

Current mama health pulmonary fibrosis content draws on questions shared in the app and shows recurring concerns around persistent dry cough and fatigue.

Seeing the kinds of questions others with the same condition have raised can help you identify a topic you also want to discuss or prepare questions that might otherwise be forgotten during an appointment.

Those experiences cannot determine what your own symptoms mean medically. Different people can have very different experiences even when the diagnosis is similar.

You can read more about persistent dry cough and fatigue in fibrotic lung disease.

How can mama health help before and between specialist appointments?

mama health can help you organize information, understand medical language, and prepare questions without replacing your doctor.

mama health is a free app for everything your condition asks of you, grounded in medical science and the experience of others, so you don't have to figure it out alone.

• Ask anything. Shaped by trusted sources, your history, and thousands like you.
  Questions often appear outside an appointment. mama health gives you a place to explore educational information and keep the points you want to remember together.
• Find specialists and care near you, wherever you are.
  If you are looking for an ILD specialist, pulmonologist, rehabilitation service, or another type of care, mama health can help you find relevant options nearby.
• Understand your labs, prescriptions, and reports, read against your history.
  mama health can provide educational explanations of unfamiliar terminology in laboratory results, prescriptions, imaging reports, and other medical documents alongside the history you choose to share.

This does not determine what a test result means medically or turn a report into a diagnosis. It can make terminology easier to understand and help you prepare clearer questions for your healthcare team.

• Track for your own reflection.
  You can record symptoms, triggers, medication experiences, appointments, questions, and changes you want to remember.

What you record can then be turned into a structured report that you can take to your doctor's appointment.

The experience of thousands like you can add practical context too. Seeing what others have wondered about may introduce a question you had not considered or help you put your own experience into clearer words.

mama health does not diagnose pulmonary fibrosis or ILD, determine which clinic you need, interpret test results as a diagnosis, decide whether a medicine is suitable, or make treatment decisions.

Prepare for your next specialist appointment

Use mama health to keep your questions, reports, prescriptions, and the changes you want to remember in one place. Find relevant care nearby and turn what you record into a structured report to take to your doctor's appointment.

What is the main takeaway when looking for pulmonary fibrosis care in Katowice?

Katowice provides local pulmonology routes, but the strongest clearly documented specialist ILD option in the immediate area is in nearby Zabrze.

Katowickie Centrum Onkologii offers a lung diseases outpatient clinic, respiratory specialists, hospital pulmonary services, imaging, and bronchoscopy within Katowice.

For more focused ILD expertise, the Pulmonology Department at SPSK No. 1 in Zabrze explicitly covers IPF, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, sarcoidosis, medication-associated lung changes, and pulmonary complications of rheumatic disease. It also provides pulmonary function testing, CT, bronchoscopy, and respiratory rehabilitation.

Other general pulmonology services are available throughout Katowice, but they should not automatically be described as dedicated pulmonary fibrosis centres unless their published scope confirms that expertise.

For NFZ specialist care, an e-referral is generally required. You can choose an appropriate contracted specialist clinic outside Katowice when more specialized expertise is relevant.

Before arranging an appointment, confirm the referral requirements, current service availability, and which scans or medical records the clinic wants you to bring.

Disclaimer: This content is informational and not a medical device. mama health offers information and support and does not replace a doctor.