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, maybe 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 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 might the ongoing healthcare reform impact the retention of medical staff in Lithuania?
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today. We’ve seen quite a lot of tension surrounding the proposed healthcare reform in Lithuania. Can you give us a brief overview of the opposition’s stance on this issue?
**Guest**: Absolutely. The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party has raised concerns about the ongoing healthcare reform, insisting that it shouldn’t proceed without a detailed and public review. They are advocating for an evidence-based assessment to evaluate the potential impacts before any drastic changes are made.
**Interviewer**: The ruling conservatives have rejected this criticism. What reasons did they provide for moving forward with the reform despite the opposition’s concerns?
**Guest**: The Speaker of the Seimas suggested that major systemic changes often face resistance and emphasized the need for the ministry to prepare better. It’s clear that they believe initiating the reform is necessary, but there seems to be a gap in communication with those directly affected, which could be contributing to the unrest.
**Interviewer**: Recently, there have been reports of resignations among managers and medical staff in various healthcare institutions. How are these resignations related to the reform, according to the former Minister of Health?
**Guest**: Former Minister Aurelijs Veryga indicated that the ongoing reform might be influencing these resignations. It’s indicative of the unrest and dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals regarding how these changes are being implemented.
**Interviewer**: The Speaker of the Seimas mentioned the necessity of providing clear information to the public. How do you see the government addressing these communication issues?
**Guest**: Communication is key. The Speaker’s remarks imply that the ministry must engage more transparently with stakeholders about the reform’s process and potential impacts. This could help alleviate some of the concerns and doubts surrounding the changes.
**Interviewer**: Lastly, what are some potential implications if these issues are not resolved and proper communication isn’t established?
**Guest**: If the issues persist without resolution, we could see further dissatisfaction among healthcare professionals, which might lead to more resignations and potentially impact patient care. The government’s credibility could also take a hit, as the public may view them as out of touch with the realities facing the healthcare system.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for your insights. It’s certainly a crucial situation to watch as it develops.
