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Lithuania International Health Insurance / Healthcare System |
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 Lithuania is a small Baltic country sharing its borders with Latvia, Russia, Poland and Belarus. It has a population of just above 3.5 million people, with over half a million people residing in the capital Vilnius. Lithuania was the first state to announce independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 – although Moscow did not recognize this until 1991. After gaining independence, Lithuania made steps to integrate into the Western European community and became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004. The Lithuanian healthcare system went through a significant decentralization process after the former USSR dispersed.
Since gaining independence, Lithuania has made progress in reforming its economy and improving the country's healthcare sector. Although the Lithuanian public healthcare system is still lagging behind the standards of fellow EU members in Western Europe, there are some private healthcare facilities and a few state run hospitals which provide higher quality healthcare that is more equivalent to other advanced EU nations.
The flaws still remaining in the Lithuanian healthcare system concern shortages of certain medical supplies and physical resources. While Lithuanian doctors and nurses are well trained, and generally have a good understanding of the English language, a number of staff tend to seek better paid employment in other countries after qualifying, thus leaving the state healthcare system in Lithuania short on human resources. Consequently, there can be a long waiting period for a patient to see a medical practitioner for non-emergency treatment; some complex and advanced medical treatment may require a patient to be evacuated to a healthcare facility in another part of Western Europe.
There have been reports about foreign nationals in Lithuania having problems obtaining public healthcare services due to a discrepancy in a person’s immigration status. In order to avoid any difficulties in this respect, it is advisable to obtain Lithuanian international health insurance to ensure you are covered for medical costs. International health insurance for Lithuania, will also provide access to the western style of healthcare adopted by privately operated healthcare providers; this should include medical repatriation and air ambulance services in case of extreme medical circumstances.
The Ministry of Health (Sveikatos apsaugos ministerija) in Lithuania plays a stewardship role in the Lithuanian health sector, with the responsibility for creating, implementing and regulating healthcare policies. The Ministry of Health also oversees the licensing of the medical and the pharmaceutical sectors.
The public healthcare system in Lithuania is state-funded, with most of the finance being generated through taxes on employers and employees working for companies within Lithuania. The contributions are collected through the social insurance scheme, which plays a pivotal role in the funding process.
The Health Ministry is responsible for managing the State Patient Fund (SPF) (Valstybine ligoniu kasa) and the Territorial Patient Fund (TPF). These funds were introduced with the purpose of acting as distribution channels for compulsory health insurance funds in Lithuania. The Ministry of Health controls the financial and economic activities of the SPF by monitoring the distribution of funds within the limits for the compulsory health insurance budget. The TPF enters into contracts with Lithuanian health institutions and pharmacies regulated by the council of compulsory health insurance. The Lithuanian Minister of Health, the SPF and TPF work together to form a national to regional level interface to ensure funding is properly distributed and insured citizens of Lithuania have accessible quality healthcare services.
Before the launch of the SPF in 1992, Lithuania relied on funding from the USSR for provision of healthcare services. The Law on Health Insurance was enacted in Lithuania after the country gained independence. It sets out the principles and terms for the provision of individual healthcare services to citizens covered by the Lithuanian compulsory health insurance schemes and reimbursement of costs for the services provided.
The TPF covers 5 areas of Lithuania – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Panevetys and Diauliai – each of these territories being in charge of two counties. The TPF’s role is to implement state policies within their geographical areas, with the allocation of funds to provide accessible and quality health services to the insured citizens of Lithuania.
The TPFs will be allocated funds in relation to the catchment areas taking into consideration the number, sex and age of the population residing in the territory. The TPFs will enter into contracts with Lithuanian health institutions in order to guarantee the distribution, provision and accessibility of healthcare and associated services to Lithuanian citizens.
The Lithuanian social security system covers Lithuanian citizens with healthcare services including maternity care, sickness benefits, cover for accidents at work, occupational health diseases, together with retirement, unemployment and family benefits. An employer in Lithuania is required to contribute 30.7% and the employee 3.0% of gross earnings to the social security system – excluding costs associated with accidents at work, which is subject to an additional charge on employers ranging from 0.28 – 1% of an employee’s earnings. The state will fund care for dependent groups including children. Self-employed citizens in Lithuania are automatically covered for social security benefits, with the choice to top up benefits by making additional payments.
The Lithuania healthcare network is comprised of 169 hospitals – including 30 specialized facilities – 868 medical stations, 26 rehabilitation institutions, 149 primary healthcare institutions, 1489 pharmacies and 432 ambulatory institutes. Between 1996-2005, as Lithuania developed its healthcare system, primary healthcare was seen as the key component in the provision of a satisfactory healthcare service with concentration on health care centres, general practitioner surgeries and polyclinics.
Expatriates permitted to undertake employment in Lithuania, will need to join the compulsory insurance scheme; this will give them the same access to Lithuanian healthcare facilities as Lithuanian citizens. Even though the general standard of state provided healthcare services is good, it is recommended that expats take out Lithuanian international health insurance and include medical repatriation cover in the event of prolonged and advanced medical treatment being required.
The Vilnius University Hospital Santariškiu Klinikos (VUH SK) is one of Lithuania's major teaching hospitals responsible for training Lithuanian doctors to high standards. The provision of diagnostic, medical treatments and tertiary medical care is provided at the hospital and the hospital is one the leading healthcare providers for advanced medical treatment in the country; procedures such as cardiac surgery, transplant procedures and haematology treatments are carried out at the VUH SK. The VUH SK can also provide primary healthcare services and has a network of over 2000 medical professionals working within the facility.
The Alfa Clinic is a family healthcare centre situated in the capital Vilnius. This clinic provides western style out-patient services including, general practitioner, neurologist, paediatric, diagnostic, otolaryngologist and preventive health services. The Alfa Clinic is a modern healthcare provider offering healthcare services in an up-to-date medical facility, which is likely to be more suitable for expatriates or foreign nationals seeking healthcare services in Lithuania.
The Šeimos Medicinos Centro (Family Medical Centre) is a multi-profile clinic established in 1995 which has expanded its range of healthcare services to facilitate international visitors. It is predominately a primary healthcare provider and offers diagnostic, preventive treatments and basic surgical services. The Family Medical Center is designed to meet international patients’ needs and has established a good reputation for quality primary healthcare.
The Lithuanian private healthcare sector is relatively small scale with a few privately operated clinics predominately in the capital Vilnius and other major cities. The provision of healthcare services by Lithuanian private clinics is geared towards western style healthcare services and caters for international visitors.
As Lithuania is a member state of the European Union (EU), there is a reciprocal health agreement in place with other EU members. The holder of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is entitled to public health services in emergency situations; however, it does not include extensive medical treatment or medical repatriation costs for a non-Lithuanian patient. All foreign nationals visiting Lithuania are recommended to hold Lithuanian international health insurance to give them full medical coverage while in the country.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a common problem in certain areas of Lithuania – especially the forest regions; it is normally spread by infected ticks. If you plan to walk or undertake trekking while in Lithuania, you are increasing the risk of exposure to contracting TBE and, in these circumstances, it is recommended you consult with a doctor to receive the appropriate vaccination for immunization purposes.
As a foreign national in Lithuania, either as a short term visitor or as an expatriate, it is paramount to safeguard yourself from medical costs which may occur from seeking healthcare services in Lithuania. It is important to bear-in-mind that there are limitations to the medical procedures, which the Lithuanian healthcare system can perform. It is recommended that Lithuanian international health insurance is obtained and should include medical air ambulatory services and medical repatriation in case of extreme medical circumstances require the use of these services.
One the main obstacle Lithuania faced after gaining independence was the funding and implementation of a public health care system. Prior to independence, Moscow was responsible for budgeting the Lithuania region health sector. In 1991, Lithuania drew up the preliminary framework for establishing the new approach towards public healthcare services, with the main goal to establish sound provision of primary, secondary and tertiary care for citizens of Lithuania. The SPF and TPF were initiated together with the Law on Health and the Law on Health Institutions as bodies to supply and deliver healthcare services in the newly independent country. The Ministry of Health, SPF and TPF have had a positive effect on reforming the Lithuanian health sector and have made significant improvements. However, the Lithuanian healthcare system does fall short when compared to other western EU counterparts, most notable in the shortage of medical supplies and resources. The biggest challenges the Lithuanian healthcare system faces is achieving continuous development, the eradication of shortcomings and to manage the exodus of highly qualified medical professionals.
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Lithuania International Health Insurance |
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If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Lithuania, international health insurance plan will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Lithuania. Should you require further information on Lithuania and global medical insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now. |
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