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24-11-2023

From 1 January, antibiotics will be 100% reimbursed

Iliustracija

Antibiotics on B list, which were only reimbursed at 50% of the reference (state reimbursement) price for children and the disadvantaged, will be moved to A list, and as of 1 January 2024, the reference price of such medicines will be reimbursed at 100% for all patients under the conditions of prescribing.  

“To improve access to health services and reduce antimicrobial resistance, guidelines on the use of antimicrobial medicines have been developed, enabling reimbursable antibiotics to be prescribed to a wider range of patients who need them. Reimbursement will not be limited to children, the elderly and the disabled, but will cover antibiotics for all patients who need them. This will ensure that all patients have equal access to the same health care” – says Aurimas Pečkauskas, Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania.  

From the beginning of next year, all antibiotics for acute upper respiratory infections, acute bronchitis, infectious diseases of the ear, bacterial diseases, endocarditis, infectious diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, etc. will be reimbursed. 

The following medicines will be transferred from the B list of reimbursable medicines to the A list by order of the Minister of Health:  Amoxicillinum, Amoxicillinum et Acidum clavulanicum, Azitromycinum, Benzylpenicillinum, Cefadroxilum, Clarithromycinum, Doxycyclinum, Erythromycinum, Metronidazolum, Nitrofurantoinum, Phenoxymethylpenicillinum, Sultamicillinum, Sulfadiazidum argentum, Sulfamethoxazolum et Trimethoprinum, Nystatinum. 

Around EUR 2 million will be allocated from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund to implement this decision. 

The transfer of antibiotics and the preparation of recommendations were entrusted to an expert working group lead by prof. dr. Romaldas Mačiulaitis. The working group consisted of laboratory medicine physicians, microbiologists, family doctors, nephrologists, infectious disease physicians, gastroenterologists and specialists from the Ministry of Health (MOH).    

The recommendations on the use of antimicrobial medicines are intended for family doctors and specialists who prescribe antimicrobial medicines in primary outpatient personal health care services in Lithuania. 

Currently, the A list includes medicines to treat a wide range of diseases (for example, oncological disease, tuberculosis, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, blood clotting disorders). They may be prescribed to all insured persons suffering from the diseases listed in this list, subject to the conditions laid down for prescription. The reference prices of all medicines on this list are 100% reimbursed.

B list medicines are prescribed for certain social groups (for example, children, pensioners, people with disabilities, etc.) who are less financially able to afford certain medicines than other insured persons, depending on the registered indications of the medicines. The reference prices of medicines on this list are reimbursed at 100% for children and disabled persons, and 50% for pensioners and disabled persons with a reduced capacity of 30-40%.

Ministry of Health Communications Division

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Last updated: 16-01-2024

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