Skip to main content
26-03-2025

EUR 600 million for the health of patients: what has the money been used for?

Iliustracija

Over the last five years, the number of users of reimbursed medicines in Lithuania has increased by almost a fifth, and so has the state spending on financing the necessary treatment. In 2024, a record amount of more than EUR 600 million has been allocated for the reimbursement of medicines and medical devices. Which diseases account for the largest share of the budget, how is access to medicines ensured for socially vulnerable groups and what measures help to reduce costs for patients?
 

More patients, more funding

Over the last five years, the number of people using reimbursed medicines has increased by nearly 20% to almost 1.3 million. According to Lina Škiudaitė, Adviser to the Pharmaceuticals Reimbursement Division of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), this reflects two main trends: the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the state’s efforts to ensure that more and more patients can get the treatment they need by spending less of their personal funds. 

In 2024, the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) spent an average of almost EUR 50 million a month on medicines and medical devices, and EUR 593 million a year. Over the last 10 years, the Fund has tripled its expenditure.

“This is a record amount, reflecting rising morbidity and the increasing availability of medicines for patients, as well as medical advances and the rising cost of new medicines, especially for oncology and chronic diseases, which are being added to the reimbursement system more and more each year. Last year, 42 new items were added to the list of reimbursed medicines, that is, new medicines were added or the indications for some medicines were expanded. All this has significantly improved patients’ access to the treatment they need”, - said the representative of the NHIF. 

Oncology and cardiology medicines have the highest costs 

According to L. Škiudaitė, the largest share of the budget for reimbursed medicines is spent on oncological diseases - around EUR 250 million per year. The need for these medicines is constantly growing, as medical advances make it possible to develop more and more new medicines to improve patients’ quality of life and ensure the effectiveness of treatment. Moreover, these medicines are mostly original, which means they are expensive, as they require high investment for research and production and there is no competition. It is estimated that in 2024, more than 51,000 patients in Lithuania were taking anti-tumour medicines.

The highest mortality rate in Lithuania is due to cardiovascular diseases. There are more than 900,000 cardiology patients in our country, which means that every second or third person in the country uses reimbursable cardiology medicines. Paradoxically, according to the NHIF specialist, spending on this group of medicines remains optimal, with just over EUR 81 million needed to reimburse cardiology medicines last year. 

“There are long-established medicines on the market that manufacturers can supply at lower prices, as well as many generic medicines that offer an equivalent alternative to expensive originator medicines. This competition keeps prices relatively low,” explains L. Škiudaitė. - New medicines in this field are less frequent, so the overall costs are not as high compared to anti-tumour medicines, despite the very wide range of patients.”

Growing demand for medical devices

In addition to medicines, an increasing share of the Fund is used to reimburse medical aids. In 2024, around 225,000 patients used reimbursable aids, for an amount of close to EUR 58 million. This means that the need for medical aids has almost doubled in the last four years.

This group includes a range of nursing and medical care products such as nappies, enteral feeding devices, glucose measurement systems, wound care products, etc. The main part of the Fund is for diabetic patients, who are reimbursed for insulin pumps, sensors, strips and other essential supplies. “For example, it can cost around EUR 400 to reimburse a patient for a continuous glucose monitoring system over three months, so including such devices in the reimbursement system makes a significant contribution to reducing patients’ costs,” says L. Škiudaitė. 

According to her, the demand for care products is growing rapidly, with more and more patients using reimbursable nappies, catheters and other items to improve their quality of life. Most of these patients have chronic illnesses or are elderly and need nursing care.

How are medicines premiums reduced for patients?

In addition to the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund’s reimbursement of medicines, another EUR 35 million was allocated last year from the state budget to cover patients’ medicine premiums. 

According to the NHIF representative, for the fifth year in a row, special attention is paid to socially vulnerable groups in the reimbursement of medicines. People over 75 years of age, low-income people with disabilities and people who have reached the age of retirement are covered by the full premium system, which allows them to receive reimbursed medicines without additional costs.

For this purpose, EUR 31.5 million has been allocated in 2024, compared to close to EUR 24 million in 2023.

In addition, to promote the rational use of medicines, an additional EUR 3.6 million was allocated last year to cover the premiums of those patients who chose the medicines with the lowest premiums in pharmacies and accumulated a basket of premiums of a fixed amount. 

“This benefit, which was introduced in July 2023, is one of the most important measures to reduce the patient’s out-of-pocket costs for medicines. It allows patients to receive reimbursable medicines with lower or even zero premiums and encourages more rational choices of medicines, with more people choosing cheaper alternatives - such as generics - in pharmacies,” says L. Škiudaitė.

The NHIF invites you:

Last updated: 14-04-2025

Related news:

Treatment Abroad: When Are Lithuanian Patients Sent to Other Countries and Who Pays?

Migraine: Expert Advice on How to Treat It Rationally and Safely

Improved Access to Treatment: More Medications Reimbursed, Fewer Barriers

Lithuania has already purchased seasonal influenza vaccines

Health insurance funds have completed the signing of contracts: almost 3 billion distributed