Lithuania
In emergencies call 112 to obtain help.
Accessing care
With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can receive medically necessary treatment during a temporary stay in Lithuania. Medically necessary treatment means treatment that cannot wait until you return home. You may need such treatment, for example, due to sudden illness or an accident.
You can also receive treatment related to pregnancy, childbirth, or chronic illnesses. If you have a condition that requires regular treatment while you are staying abroad, contact a health care provider in advance to arrange the treatment.
The European Health Insurance Card does not guarantee free treatment and you will be charged the same amount as local residents. We recommend carrying additional copies of your card. If you do not have a European Health Insurance Card or if it is not accepted, you will need to pay the cost of treatment yourself. You can then apply for reimbursement from Kela afterward.
Sudden illness
Doctor
Consult a general practitioner who works at a healthcare institution that has an agreement with one of the Territorial Health Insurance Funds (Teritorinė ligonių kasa, THIF). A list of treatment providers which have an agreement with a health insurance fund, for example, doctors and medical centres, can be obtained from a regional THIF office. Medical treatment is free of charge if you show your European Health Insurance Card and ID.
You can consult a specialist if you have a general practitioner´s referral, in which case treatment is free. You must pay the cost of care by yourself if you consult a private doctor who doesn’t have an agreement with the THIF.
Dentist
If you need urgent care, consult a dentist who has a contract with one of the THIFs. Dental treatment is free of charge when you show your European Health Insurance Card, except for costs of materials, such as those used in fillings. However, there are only a limited number of contract dentists in Lithuania as most of the dentist work privately. As a private patient you must pay for the costs of treatment by yourself.
Medication
When you collect prescription medicines prescribed by a doctor in Lithuania, show your European Health Insurance Card and ID. The health insurance fund will reimburse the costs of certain medicines approved by Lithuania´s Ministry of Health. You will be reimbursed for the full cost of approved medicines. If your medicine is covered, the pharmacy will deduct the reimbursement straight away from the cost. Not all medicines are covered. For these you will have to pay the full price.
Hospital care
Admission to hospital takes place after referral by GP or specialist. In a case of an emergency you can go directly to the hospital. Present your EHIC and ID so care will be free of charge. Emergency ambulance transport is free of charge.
Check with the doctor´s surgery in advance whether the place of treatment accepts a referral written by a doctor in Finland. Private hospitals and treatment facilities may have varying practices with respect to referrals.
Read more about suddenly falling ill in Europe.
Read more about reimbursement of costs of treatment abroad.
Useful websites
If you want to travel to Lithuania to use healthcare services there, you should read our website for general information about seeking treatment abroad. You should direct your questions about healthcare in Lithuania to the Lithuanian National Contact Point.
The website of the National Contact Point of Lithuania has a list of licenced healthcare providers (in Lithuanian) operating in the country. You can search for private or public hospitals or medical centres, pharmacies or dental care providers on the site.
The Ministry of Health of Lithuania sets the prices for services in the country´s public healthcare system. Prices for the most common public health services are available on the website of Lithuania´s Contact Point. Private healthcare service providers set their prices themselves. If you seek treatment in the private sector, enquire about prices directly from the place of treatment.
Quality and safety of treatment
If you feel you have received incorrect or inadequate treatment, you can make a complaint directly to the hospital or treatment facility that provided the care. The party that treated you must respond to the complaint within 20 working days. Additional information about the complaint procedure is available on the website of the Lithuanian Contact Point.
Healthcare system
Primary healthcare in Lithuania is provided by a family doctor or by primary care teams, consisting of a specialist in internal medicine, a therapist, a paediatrician, a gynaecologist-midwife and a surgeon. Each person has to register to a family doctor. Family doctor has right to refer patients to other types of care. Patients are able to choose their primary care health centre and their family doctor and choose a hospital after referral.
Primary healthcare services are provided in public or private outpatient healthcare institutions. Specialised outpatient care is provided in outpatient clinics and hospital polyclinics, which can be either state- or municipality-owned or private.
Costs of private healthcare services must be paid by the patient if the healthcare provider does not have an agreement with one of the Territorial Health Insurance Funds.
Emergency care can be provided by family doctors during services hours. Urgent treatment is also provided by hospital emergency units.