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03-07-2025

Health budget 2024: what does it mean for the patient?

Iliustracija

The National Health Insurance Fund presents the 2024 results of the implementation of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund budget. The past year stood out not only for higher revenues and expenditures, but also for significant changes in the areas of healthcare service and medicine reimbursement, which made a substantial contribution to improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare services.

Revenues exceeded the plan by 6%

In 2024, revenues of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) budget amounted to EUR 3.5 billion – EUR 206 million (6%) more than planned. This growth was driven by faster-than-expected growth in the national economy and the wage fund. The budget expenditure plan (excluding state-delegated functions) was fulfilled at 98%, and with the use of reserves, a total of EUR 3.4 billion was allocated for healthcare services – EUR 88 million more than in 2023.

“The past year was marked by significant changes and tangible benefits for patients. What matters is not only that we collected more funds than planned, but also how those funds were used – to improve the accessibility and quality of services. Essential, life-saving services and medicines for patients began to be reimbursed. The growth of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund budget and its rational use helped maintain the sustainability of the healthcare system and brought services even closer to meeting patients’ needs,” says Simona Adamkevičiūtė, director of the Economics Department of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) at the Ministry of Health.

A total of EUR 3.55 billion was used, including EUR 173 million from the CHIF budget reserve. The largest share of expenditures went to personal healthcare services (EUR 2.5 billion), medicines and medical aids (EUR 635 million), as well as various health programs – ranging from preventive screenings to transplantation costs.

Focus on new services and innovative treatment

The year 2024 was especially significant due to the inclusion of new and innovative healthcare services in the list of services reimbursed by the CHIF. Reimbursement began for oncology treatment with CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Islet cell and fecal microbiota transplants were also included, and the indications for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were expanded.

A new, highly precise PET/CT scan for prostate-specific membrane antigen, used to detect prostate cancer lesions, was also included in the reimbursement list. The scope of family doctors’ competencies was expanded to include more tests, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests, urine culture, ferritin testing, and rapid tests for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus in adults.

To improve service quality and efficiency, a mixed payment model for emergency medical services in inpatient institutions was introduced last year. At the end of the year, an additional EUR 54 million in funding was allocated, of which EUR 48.2 million was used.

Since July, specialized psychological counselling services have been funded for patients facing suicide risk, those suffering from oncological or neurodegenerative diseases, as well as for parents whose newborns were born with severe health impairments.

Improved accessibility of medicines and medical aids

In 2024, 1.29 million people were treated using funds from the CHIF budget – 4% more than in previous years. There were 8.4% more prescriptions issued for reimbursable medicines and medical aids (MA), and about 91,000 patients were provided with reimbursable orthopedic technical aids and medical aids during the year.

Forty-two generic medicines have been added to the list of diseases and reimbursable medicines for their treatment, 22 of which have been transferred from the Reserve Pharmaceuticals List.

Most of these pharmaceuticals are intended for the treatment of oncological diseases, cystic fibrosis, and chronic heart failure.

Special attention has been given to very rare diseases – the treatment costs for patients with Alagille syndrome, choroidal melanoma, and achondroplasia have begun to be reimbursed.
Last year, the availability of MA was significantly improved. The CHIF began reimbursing continuous glucose monitoring systems, enteral nutrition support products, and gravity infusion systems. In addition, eyeglass lenses for preschool-aged children were included in the reimbursement system.

In the area of centrally procured pharmaceuticals and MA, more treatments were reimbursed for patients last year, particularly in the fields of cardiology and oncological surgery – including individually tailored, so-called personalized MA. Additionally, restrictions were lifted on prescribing Ranibizumab / Aflibercept for the treatment of eye diseases, provided the treatment is effective.

Price indexation and reserve

An important measure to ensure smooth provision of services in 2024 was the indexation of base prices for healthcare services. At the beginning and end of last year, additional funds were allocated to cover services exceeding contract limits and to adjust prices. This not only helped ensure access to services for patients but also created conditions for healthcare institutions to increase employee salaries starting in 2025.

Last year, the CHIF budget reserve remained substantial – at the beginning of the year it amounted to EUR 721.8 million, and by the end of the year it was EUR 549 million. The reserve funds were used not only for risk management but also for additional financing of services – for example, EUR 24 million was allocated to cover outstanding credit debt for medicines and medical aids.

The Compulsory Health Insurance Council approved the 2024 CHIF report package, and it was endorsed by the Seimas.

  • The CHIF financial report sets can be found here
  • The CHIF budget execution report sets can be found here

(Photo Freepik)

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Last updated: 18-07-2025

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