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 ambulatory services at the place of residence of patients and to reduce hospitalization.
New entities 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 restructuring 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.
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How does Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen plan to ensure better communication and transparency regarding the healthcare reform?
**Interview with V. Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen. The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party has recently called for a halt on the healthcare reform and for a public review. What are your thoughts on their appeal?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen:** Thank you for having me. It’s important to recognize that any significant reform, especially in healthcare, will inevitably face resistance. The changes we are implementing are quite systemic, and while it’s crucial to listen to various stakeholders, we must also ensure that the rationale behind these reforms is communicated effectively.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the need for clear communication. Do you believe the ministry has provided sufficient information to the public and those affected?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen:** It appears that there may be a perception that not enough information has been shared before the reform commenced. This is something we need to address. While the ministry is responsible for this communication, it’s clear that better outreach and transparency are necessary to foster understanding among those impacted by the changes.
**Interviewer:** There have been reports of resignations among healthcare staff, which the former Minister Aurelijs Veryga has linked to the reform. How do you respond to these concerns?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen:** While I understand that there are concerns regarding dissatisfaction and questions around the changes, I urge caution in linking these resignations directly to the reform. We must differentiate between individual circumstances and systemic issues, and it’s vital that we focus on evidence-based assessments moving forward.
**Interviewer:** What steps do you believe the government should take to improve the situation and address the public’s concerns?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen:** First and foremost, there needs to be a robust dialogue with all stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and the public. The ministry should ensure that thorough evidence-based assessments are conducted publicly, allowing everyone to understand the implications of these reforms fully. Transparency and clarity can help alleviate fears and build support for necessary changes.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen, for sharing your insights on this important issue.
**Čmilytė-Nielsen:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical time for our healthcare system, and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss it.
