Lithuanians still complain about long lines: they advised how to get to the doctor as soon as possible.

Realizing that they will not receive services soon, they can turn to private institutions, although there as a result there are no queues so far.

The Ministry of Health’s State Health Insurance Fund (VLK) has some advice on how to get to a doctor faster.

Queues at a particular medical institution depend on the ability of specific medical institutions to provide fewer or more services, their organizational and administrative decisions, and the popularity of the doctors who work there. In addition, the coronavirus brought corrections to the established rhythm of life.

As in all countries, as well as in our country, there are queues for planned assistance and ways are being found to shorten those queues. The goal is also to ensure that those patients who need urgent care, i. and. They cannot wait in line to receive such help on time.

It is no secret that people complain about long queues for doctors. Health insurance specialists constantly urge residents to For a large tail, choose the treatment or specialist facility with the lowest tail.

And a few more important things to help patients stay stuck in the waiting lines. First of all, if you have any problems, you should consult your family doctor., working at the primary health care institution where the person is enrolled. It is important to know that patients have the right to choose a health center and a family doctor.. If a person is covered by compulsory health insurance (PSD) and the institution has a contract with the ICD, the patient receives free medical care.

The family doctor, after evaluating the patient’s state of health, You can refer the patient to a specialist doctor if necessary. If a patient receives a referral for scheduled services, such as a nephrologist or ophthalmologist, then the examining physician decided that he did not need the necessary assistance but a planned consultation with a specialist physician.

When issuing a referral, the patient must be informed in which at least 3 institutions provide the relevant personal health care services. The patient chooses which of them wishes to receive the health care services specified in the referral. It is also important to rememberI register with a specialist within 30 days, because that is the moment when the shipment is valid.

Therefore, a patient with a referral can choose a specialist doctor at any health care institution that has a contract with the ICD of their place of residence to provide the necessary services. And the referring physician must provide information to the patient where these services are provided. In addition, information about health care facilities that have contracts with the ICD is published on all ICD websites.

Therefore, health insurance funds constantly encourage patients to search the waiting lines first before registering with doctors. Information about this can be found on the websites of medical institutions by calling the reception of the medical institution.

Legislation stipulates that a patient with a referral must register the patient (on a paper or electronic waiting list for the services of the medical institution or in the electronic system) when requesting the provision of the service from the medical institution. The medical institution must offer the patient the first possible day of service. And if the patient refuses to receive the service on the earliest possible day of its provision, register it according to a later date of your choice.

The personnel of the medical institution that must carry out the registration correctly is appointed by the head of the medical institution, therefore, in case of questions related to the registration, the administration of the medical institution should be contacted.

In addition, patients should not forget the date of their visit to the doctor and be on time. In fact, there are cases when patients who enroll in a doctor do not go to the medical institution. Therefore, patients who enroll in physicians are constantly reminded that they must be disciplined and, if there is any reason not to see a physician, inform them of this. I. and. canceling the visit This is important because each absent patient extends the queue to other patients who need that help, perhaps more quickly, “said the VLK.

“There is an understandable population dissatisfaction with currently more difficult access to health care services. However, after quarantine, it is not easy for some treatment facilities to return to their previous work rate, and the number of patients it has also increased recently.However, according to the decision of the Minister of Health, in July, the medical institutions that provide planned services must reach the established indicator, to provide at least 80%. planned services, – Gabrielė Banaitytė, a SAM representative previously commented.

– The necessary care is provided immediately to all patients, both now and during the quarantine period. The provision of other services, as mentioned, has not yet been fully resumed, but patients in a hurry may opt for paid services. This system, where patients who don’t want to wait for a PSDF reimbursement service can get it faster but have to pay for it, has been in place in the past. “

You may also have experienced what long lines mean at the doctor? Or maybe the opposite: your case was different, did it end quickly and happily? Share your experience: send emails with your stories to [email protected]. Read more here.

Not everyone has updated the service

Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga addresses the country’s municipalities and their medical institutions, urging them to focus and resume providing services to patients as soon as possible. Of course, this must be done in accordance with the necessary security requirements, ensuring adequate infection control, SAM writes in a press release.

This was also discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, where it was agreed that maximum efforts should be made to renew the services provided to patients, as people cannot wait for the required services and queues should be shortened.

It has already been announced that in July, to receive 1/12 payment for services, medical institutions must provide at least 70 percent. stationary and at least 80 percent. ambulatory services volumes. The government has decided to monitor the return to the provision of scheduled services, and whether service interruptions persist until this year. meter. On September 1, 1/12 of the payment can be waived and payment can be made for services rendered.

“There is no quarantine in the country, life is slowly returning to normal, although the coronavirus has not disappeared, care must continue, but services must be provided to patients. After all, people cannot be left without services. treatment is necessary. Therefore, the country’s municipalities and their medical institutions should do everything possible to ensure that patients receive as many services as possible and are updated as soon as possible. Additional human and administrative resources are also needed to allow patients to contact and call or register at a treatment center. Therefore, we will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate the efforts of the institutions, “says Minister A. Veryga.

About this before the 25th of each month. The Government will be informed and a decision will be made on how to proceed if institutions continue to be slow to resume services to patients.

On Thursday, the government agreed to that for August 31. A new procedure will be approved for the provision of remote outpatient services and their payment from the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (PSDF). It was also agreed that concrete proposals would be made to make call centers more operational when patients call to register for doctor visits. Meetings will also be organized with representatives of the municipalities to encourage the municipalities to take measures to actively renew the provision of services by their medical institutions. The “Registration Center” is tasked with creating the technical possibilities for all medical institutions to be able to connect to the Pre-Patient Registration Information System on September 1, which would make it easier for doctors. In the near future, the requirements for communicable disease control for institutions will be reviewed, and a decision will be made on the further work of municipal fever clinics.