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.
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What are the key points of contention the opposition has regarding the healthcare reform in Lithuania?
**Interview with Laura Žukauskienė, Political Analyst**
**Editor:** Laura, thank you for joining us today. Last week, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party appealed to the government to halt the ongoing healthcare reform. What are the main concerns being raised by the opposition?
**Laura Žukauskienė:** Thank you for having me. The opposition is primarily concerned about the lack of transparency and public engagement in the healthcare reform process. They are calling for a thorough and evidence-based assessment to be conducted, arguing that such significant changes should not be implemented without adequate input from the public and those directly impacted—such as healthcare professionals.
**Editor:** The ruling conservatives rejected this criticism, stating that reforms naturally encounter resistance. How do you view their response?
**Laura Žukauskienė:** The ruling party is right in acknowledging that major reforms often meet opposition, but their dismissal of concerns could be seen as problematic. The Speaker of the Seimas mentioned that the ministry should better prepare for such changes by informing and engaging with affected parties beforehand. This suggests a recognition that communication is crucial for successful implementation.
**Editor:** There have been reports of resignations among healthcare staff, which former Minister Aurelijs Veryga linked to the reform. What impact do these resignations have on the current situation?
**Laura Žukauskienė:** Resignations in the healthcare sector can significantly undermine the effectiveness of reforms. When experienced professionals leave, it creates a vacuum that can lead to disruptions in patient care and erode public trust in the system. However, the current Speaker has urged against conflating these resignations directly with the reform process itself, emphasizing a need for clarity regarding the reasons behind such departures.
**Editor:** Do you think the current government will reconsider its approach in light of the increasing dissatisfaction?
**Laura Žukauskienė:** It’s difficult to predict, but if public discontent continues to grow and if they face increasing pressure from both the opposition and the public, they may have to reconsider their strategy. Listening to the voices of those affected and fostering transparent dialogue could be beneficial not just for the government’s credibility, but ultimately for the success of the reform itself.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Laura. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops in the coming weeks.
**Laura Žukauskienė:** Thank you for having me. It’s certainly a critical moment for Lithuania’s healthcare system.
