Overview
Lithuania provides free state-funded healthcare to all citizens and registered long-term residents. Private healthcare is also available in the country. If patients who are entitled to free health care services choose the more expensive services, materials or procedures for these services, they pay for the difference of the actual price themselves.
What happens if you need to see a doctor?
In order to get healthcare services a patient should always visit his or her family practitioner first. If the family practitioner decides that it is necessary, he will give a referral to a specialist and that consultation will be covered by national health insurance funds. A person living with diabetes can go to their family practitioner any time they need and should go every month to get the prescription of insulin. If a patient wants to, they can get insulin for a 6 month period at once. They also get their test strips and checks like HbA1C (every three months) and eye tests (once per year). An adult living with diabetes can see their endocrinologist at least one time per year or more, if necessary.
Who decides what medicines doctors can prescribe?
The Ministry of Health, which is responsible for implementing government policy, making proposals and providing authorization and licenses for the medical and pharmaceutical industry, centrally controls Lithuania’s healthcare system.
Reimbursable medicines and medical aids in Lithuania are prescribed by family physicians or physician specialists, employed in healthcare establishments that have agreements with the Territorial Health Insurance Fund. Physicians may only prescribe medicines listed in the Lithuanian State Medicines Register or other medicines permitted for use by legal acts.
Practically, what is it like to live with type 1 diabetes in Lithuania?
Insulins are fully or almost fully covered by the Territorial Health Insurance Fund. The difference between the actual price and the reference price, or the price paid by the Territorial Health Insurance Fund, shall be covered at patient’s expense. Test strips are covered 1800 strips per year for patients under the age of 24, and 900 strips per year if you are above 24. An additional 600 strips per pregnancy period are given to the expectant mother who has diabetes. Insulin pumps are very expensive and not covered at all.
What about getting admitted to hospital?
Admission to a hospital takes place with the referral issued by a family practitioner or specialist. Only in the case of an emergency can a patient go directly to the hospital.
How does diabetes care vary throughout Lithuania?
There are endocrinology clinics with highly professional diabetes experts, but only in the big cities. In small cities there are just family practitioners and they know little about diabetes and good diabetes control. If there are a lot of patients with diabetes in a small city an endocrinologist will visit, but you have to register first and wait for a long time. Of course, the number of patients for that day is limited. The best way to get see a specialist faster is to get a referral and go to the nearest big city. So the best up-to-date access to care is for those who live in a big city.
Thank you to Jurgita Neverdauskaitė Gintauskienė in Lithuania for providing this information.
Last updated 2016