January 1, 2016 was scheduled for being the operational launch date of the new Maria Sklodow- ska-Curie Memorial National — Institute of Oncology and Hematology (NIOH), arising from a merger between the Centre for Oncology — Institute (CO-I) with the Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (IHT). A Council of Ministers’ draft regulation (KRM-110-101-15) had already been published on this matter by the Government Legislative Centre. Following a public hearing held on 13–20 October 2015, this draft was then passed by the Ministry of Health to the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers for the purpose of being signed by the Prime Minister. For no given reason whatsoever, this legislative process was however abruptly halted; then Minister of Health, Marian Zembala, having chosen not to inform his decision to either the Management Boards or the joint Director of these merging institutions. According to media reporting, it appears this was an attempt to circumvent legally binding regulations by setting aside real estate belonging to the CO-I at the Gliwice branch, due to the decision taken by the Minister of Health without the consent of the institutes’ joint Director nor Management Boards. This prevented consolidating the merger, because of differences still existing in the merger applications, opinions, documentation, resolutions and most importantly in the merging parties themselves which were then being resolved. As a result of such actions, the long-term efforts in organising and financing the harmonisation of administrative and management procedures of the merger at both institutions has been wasted. The beneficial outcomes of the recovery programme implemented at the CO-I from 2012–2015 may have also been squandered; this having been commissioned by the Ministry of Health and the Supreme Chamber of Control, due to an adverse assessment of the CO-I made in previous years. This confusing and socially divisive decision to the public good will thus arrest the further development of the CO-I and IHT, and indeed threaten their continuing to operate in their existing organisational and legal forms; it will also expose the National Treasury to additional future burdens. The presented study serves to document several years of actions undertaken by the Ministry of Health, CO-I and IHT for establishing NIOH. Perhaps it can help guide decision-makers in the future. Undoubtedly, strengthening the capacity for undertaking research, science, education, diagnostics and treatment in both institutes through their consolidation, will be crucial for their developing vital and complementary areas of medicine, namely oncology, hematology and transfusion medicine. Beyond question, establishing NIOH with a status of the Public Research Institute — directly subordinated to the Ministry of Health — for delivering comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services, together with providing a centre of excellence for post-graduate education and reseach will have a profound and lasting benefit to patients suffering from all types of malignancies as well as being justified in terms of the professional, legal, operational and financial advantages so conferred.