The availability of rehabilitation services is improving for those suffering from oncological diseases

According to Elita Radkevič, advisor of the Department of Primary Health Care, Dentistry and Medical Rehabilitation of SAM, in September. the signed amendment to the minister’s order will allow several hundred patients to receive not only specialized services, but will also ensure a better rehabilitation of patients.

“We are receiving more and more requests from doctors to extend the terms of patient referrals for medical rehabilitation services. Taking this into account, we have decided to adjust the period of 21 calendar days valid until now for the provision of the service to 2 months – this will help all patients, including oncology patients, to create better conditions for receiving inpatient rehabilitation services”, says E. Radkevič.

According to her, more than a thousand patients with oncological diseases have been able to receive outpatient rehabilitation services (including initial rehabilitation services). Another 3 thousand were able to receive inpatient rehabilitation services.

“An increasing number of patients with oncological diseases are prescribed specific treatment in a day hospital, although some of them previously received outpatient treatment. The amendment of the Minister’s order is necessary in order to expand the provision of day inpatient services and to see the growing need to receive such medical rehabilitation services”, says the representative of the Ministry.

SAM, in order to improve the availability and quality of diagnostic and treatment services for oncological diseases, also ensures a faster service time – after operations, patients with oncological diseases can use the so-called “green corridors” and receive rehabilitation services faster.

Specialized oncological care in Lithuania is provided by six medical institutions: Vilnius University Hospital Santaras Klinikos, National Cancer Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Klinikos Hospital, Klaipėda University Hospital, Republic of Šiauliai Hospital and Republic of Panevėžys Hospital.

You can find the amendment to the ministerial order “On the approval of the description of the procedure for the appointment and provision of medical rehabilitation and anti-recidivism sanatorium treatment services” HERE.