The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party appealed to the country’s officials last week, urging them to stop the reform of the healthcare network and to start a detailed and public review of it, to carry out an evidence-based assessment. The ruling conservatives rejected the criticism.
“Not a single reform passes without resistance, this is a major systemic change and apparently the ministry must prepare for such a change, first of all, by its arguments, by providing information, above all to those who will be affected by that reform,” the Speaker of the Seimas told LRT on Wednesday. “It gives the impression that it was not fully done and it is being explained when it has already been started, perhaps a little late.”
“I can’t answer why this happened, the ministry should be asked here, but obviously answers are needed, information is needed,” she added.
Recently, there have been reports of resignations of managers and doctors in different health care institutions. Former Minister of Health Aurelijs Veryga linked some of these cases to the ongoing reform.
V. Čmilytė-Nielsen, for her part, urged not to confuse these situations.
“The fact that there are questions, there is dissatisfaction with the changes, this is apparently natural. It really shouldn’t be confused with those individual cases, sometimes dictated by the political conjuncture, when, say, the management leaves or a group of doctors leave one or another hospital. Those things are not necessarily related, and usually they are not,” she said.
The health care reform was approved by the Seimas last year, after its implementation it is promised to provide more outpatient services at the place of residence of patients and reduce hospitalization.
New formations will be created in municipalities – health centers that would take care of public health, provide ambulatory health care services, emergency medical assistance, day services, inpatient services for internal diseases, and engage in long-term care.
However, part of the municipalities and the medical institutions themselves claim that the transformation does not take into account the development of the network of medical institutions carried out so far, and as a result, services will decrease in some regions.
#Speaker #Seimas #health #reform #sufficiently #explained #affect
How might the government’s failure to address concerns from healthcare professionals impact public trust in the ruling party?
**Interview with Aistė Šuminas, Political Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Aistė. The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party has recently called for a halt to the healthcare reform. What do you think are the main concerns driving this appeal?
**Aistė Šuminas:** Thank you for having me. The Social Democratic Party is primarily concerned about the lack of transparency and adequate public consultation surrounding the healthcare reform. They argue that any systemic change in such a vital sector needs to be carefully assessed and debated, particularly as it significantly affects both healthcare providers and patients. The call for an evidence-based review suggests that they want more data and clearer communication from the ruling party about the rationale and expected outcomes of the reform.
**Editor:** The ruling conservatives have rejected these criticisms. How has the Speaker of the Seimas responded to the opposition’s plea?
**Aistė Šuminas:** The Speaker, Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, acknowledged that systemic reforms often face resistance, implying that it is a natural part of the process. She highlighted the importance of the Ministry of Health providing information to those affected by the changes. However, her comments also reflect a recognition that perhaps the groundwork for the reform has not been adequately laid out—specifically, that more proactive communication should have occurred before the reform was implemented.
**Editor:** There have been reports of resignations among healthcare staff during this reform. How do those resignations relate to the current situation?
**Aistė Šuminas:** Former Minister of Health Aurelijs Veryga has indicated that some of these resignations may be linked to the ongoing reform, suggesting that there could be discontent or uncertainty within the healthcare workforce. However, the current Speaker has urged caution in linking these resignations directly to the reforms, indicating that while dissatisfaction exists, it might stem from a range of issues beyond just the changes being implemented.
**Editor:** What are the potential implications if the current government does not address the concerns raised by the opposition and healthcare professionals?
**Aistė Šuminas:** If the government fails to address these concerns, it risks losing public trust and support among both healthcare workers and patients. Ongoing discontent could lead to further unrest in the healthcare sector, a decline in service quality, or even a crisis in healthcare delivery as staff continue to leave. Additionally, persistent dissatisfaction might fuel more substantial political opposition, potentially affecting future elections and policy-making.
**Editor:** Thank you, Aistė, for providing us with valuable insights into this complex issue. We will continue to follow the developments closely.
**Aistė Šuminas:** Thank you for having me! It’s essential to keep an eye on how these reforms unfold and their impact on Lithuanian society.
