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 ambulatory services at the place of residence of patients and to reduce hospitalization.
New entities 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 restructuring 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.
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/lt_LT/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));
#Speaker #Seimas #health #reform #sufficiently #explained #affect
What are the main reasons behind the opposition’s call to halt the healthcare reform, and how does Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen plan to address these concerns?
**Interview with V. Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen. Last week, the opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party called for a halt to the ongoing healthcare reform. What is your perspective on their request?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen**: Thank you for having me. It’s important to understand that any significant reform, particularly in healthcare, will inevitably face some resistance. We are undertaking a major systemic change, and it’s crucial for the Ministry of Health to effectively communicate and provide information to all those affected by it.
**Editor**: The opposition has expressed concerns about a lack of transparency and public consultation prior to implementing these changes. Do you think the government could have done more to engage with the public?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen**: I recognize the need for more thorough communication. The impression we have is that the groundwork for this reform wasn’t completely laid out before implementation. It is essential for the Ministry to prepare robust arguments and clear information to alleviate concerns, especially among healthcare workers and patients.
**Editor**: There have been reports of resignations within health institutions, with some linking their departures to the reform. How do you respond to those claims?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen**: I think we need to be cautious about drawing direct correlations. While there are valid questions and dissatisfaction surrounding the changes, it’s important not to conflate these instances with the ongoing reform. Each situation is unique, and we need to look at each case on its own merits.
**Editor**: What steps do you believe should be taken moving forward to address the concerns raised by both the opposition and the public about the healthcare reform?
**Čmilytė-Nielsen**: Moving forward, the Ministry must prioritize transparency. They need to provide clear insights into the reform’s objectives and anticipated outcomes, as well as actively seek feedback from both healthcare professionals and the public. A detailed assessment, grounded in evidence, can help guide these discussions.
**Editor**: Thank you for sharing your insights, Speaker Čmilytė-Nielsen. It’s clear that navigating such reforms is a complex process, and open dialogue will be key in addressing the challenges ahead.
**Čmilytė-Nielsen**: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial we keep the conversation going as we work towards a stronger healthcare system for all.
