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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What are the key concerns that the opposition has regarding Lithuania’s healthcare reform?
**Interview with Laura Petrauskienė, a Political Analyst, on Lithuania’s Healthcare Reform Debate**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Laura. Let’s dive into the recent developments regarding the healthcare reform in Lithuania. The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party has publicly appealed to halt the reform and called for a thorough review. What do you think are the main concerns driving this appeal?
**Laura Petrauskienė:** Thank you for having me. The main concerns stem from the potential impact of the healthcare reform on patient care and access to services. The opposition argues that such reforms should be evidence-based and should involve public input, particularly from those directly affected, like healthcare workers and patients. There’s a fear that without proper assessment, the changes could lead to decreased quality of care or inefficiencies in the system.
**Editor:** The ruling conservatives have dismissed this criticism, suggesting that resistance is typical for major reforms. Do you agree with this perspective?
**Laura Petrauskienė:** While resistance is indeed common with systemic changes, the key is how the government engages with that resistance. If stakeholders feel their concerns are being ignored, it erodes trust and can lead to instability within the healthcare system. The Speaker of the Seimas mentioned the need for better communication and information sharing. This situation indicates a disconnect between the government’s objectives and the concerns expressed by healthcare professionals.
**Editor:** There have been reports of resignations among healthcare managers and doctors, which former Minister Aurelijs Veryga attributes to the ongoing reform. Do you see a direct link between the reform and these resignations?
**Laura Petrauskienė:** It’s certainly possible that the stress and uncertainty surrounding the reform are contributing factors to the resignations. However, the current Speaker, V. Čmilytė-Nielsen, suggests that we shouldn’t conflate these resignations solely with the reform’s enactment. It’s a complex situation; the healthcare sector is under a lot of pressure from various angles, including administrative challenges and public expectations, and these factors could also play a significant role.
**Editor:** What do you think the government needs to do moving forward to address these concerns?
**Laura Petrauskienė:** Transparency and open dialogue are crucial. The government should engage more actively with healthcare professionals, patients, and the wider community to discuss the reform’s objectives and expected outcomes. Conducting public forums or consultations can help in gathering feedback and making adjustments before the reform is fully implemented. Ultimately, a collaborative approach can lead to a more effective and accepted reform process.
**Editor:** Thank you, Laura, for your insights into this critical issue. We’ll continue to monitor how this situation evolves and the implications it may have on Lithuania’s healthcare system.
**Laura Petrauskienė:** Thank you for having me. I look forward to our future discussions on this topic.