Healthcare managers from the Lviv oblast visited Lithuania

Between December 10 and 16, the heads of the leading medical establishments in the Lviv oblast and those from the Health care Department of LOSA, Mykhailo Hychka, Andriy Syniuta, Oleh Duda, Roman Pukaliak, Mariana Voznytsia, Mariana Sluzhynska, and Iryna Mykychak, were introduced to the organization of medical care in Lithuania.

 

Despite all the achievements, Lithuanian colleagues are not afraid to talk about failures, they are happy to present their experience in reforming the health care system of the country.

 

The first two days were full of intensive work in Vilnius and Kaunas: Ministry of Health of Lithuania, two family medicine clinics in Vilnius, University Hospitals in Vilnius and Kaunas, Emergency Hospital in Vilnius, Emergency Medical Center in Vilnius, Vilnius Medical Information Center.

 

Everything is simple in Lithuania. Each citizen pays 9% of his income for health care. All medical care is funded through the state hospital pay register. Part of certain types of medical aid is additionally funded from state and municipal budgets. Each medical service has its own price (by the system of diagnosis-related groups). All referral to the in-patient care is made through a family physician. A comprehensive reimbursement program for medicines is available. E-health has been introduced, which is still being improved. All doctors who have their diplomas immediately receive a license for medical practice, which is confirmed every 5 years at the Ministry of Health (120 points of training). Hospitals are accredited. National medical protocols and hospital audit function.

 

600 euros per year per resident on health care makes it possible to provide quality medical care at all levels. Actually, getting acquainted with the hospital of palliative care, hospice, centres for public health and for AIDS confirms this. Preventive programs, educational campaigns occupy an important place in the public health care system. Only a few facts:

 

- The budget of the Vilnius Public Health Center with the number of 25 employees is 1.5 million euros

 

- annually, the center conducts about 100 campaigns and events

 

- in each more or less powerful hospital or polyclinic, there is a Department of Communications and Public Relations, as well as the Medical Audit Department

 

- Vaccination in Lithuania is not obligatory, however, the coverage level of children with vaccines in each of the 10 oblasts is from 92 to 99%

 

- in supermarkets, there are scales and an alcohol test in an accessible place.

 

We thank our colleagues from the Ministry of Health of Lithuania, in particular, Jurgita Bilinskait?, Edvinas Ašoklis, and Loreta Asokliene for their hospitality, openness, and arrangement of the working visit.