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 main objectives of the healthcare reform proposed by the Lithuanian government, and how do they address the concerns raised by the public and healthcare professionals?
**Interview with V. Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas on Healthcare Reform in Lithuania**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ms. Čmilytė-Nielsen. Last week, the opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party urged the government to halt the reform of the healthcare network. What is your response to their call for a public review and evidence-based assessment?
**V. Čmilytė-Nielsen:** Thank you for having me. It is not unusual for significant reforms to face resistance. This healthcare reform is a substantial systemic change, and it is essential for the Ministry of Health to adequately prepare for it, primarily by providing clear and convincing arguments to those affected. I believe there is a perception that the communication surrounding this reform was not as thorough as it should have been, which we must address going forward.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned preparedness in your statement. Why do you think there has been a lack of information provided about the reform to those directly impacted?
**V. Čmilytė-Nielsen:** I can’t say for certain why that occurred; it’s something that should be discussed within the ministry. However, it is evident that there is a need for more transparency and for addressing the questions and concerns raised by both healthcare professionals and the public. Feedback is crucial during such a significant transition.
**Interviewer:** There have been reports of resignations among healthcare managers and doctors, with links made to the ongoing reform. How do you view these changes in the workforce?
**V. Čmilytė-Nielsen:** It is important not to conflate the dissatisfaction with the reform with individual career decisions. While there may be questions surrounding the changes, each resignation should be assessed on its own merits. Nonetheless, the ministry must ensure that healthcare professionals feel supported during this transition, and we need to understand the reasons behind these departures deeply.
**Interviewer:** what steps do you think should be taken to improve the situation and address these concerns?
**V. Čmilytė-Nielsen:** We need to prioritize open communication and provide comprehensive information about the reform processes. Organizing forums for dialogue between the government, healthcare professionals, and the public could be beneficial. An evidence-based approach to assessing the reform’s impact will also help build trust and mitigate resistance.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Ms. Čmilytė-Nielsen. It will be interesting to see how this situation evolves.
**V. Čmilytė-Nielsen:** Thank you for having me; I’m looking forward to the constructive discussions ahead.
