The head of VLK reported that due to financial constraints, 26.8 million euros worth of services provided by healthcare institutions went unpaid last year.
During a recent meeting of the Health Affairs Committee, G. Bendorius, the head of the National Health Insurance Fund (VLK), revealed that the funding for services increased by 230 million euros in 2025. However, many healthcare institutions exceeded their contractual limits with the health insurance funds, offering more services than the contracts specified. This led to a situation where the Fund's revenues could not cover the expenses, resulting in 26.8 million euros of services not being compensated from last year.
This financial shortfall signifies a critical issue within the healthcare financing system in Lithuania. The increase in funding was anticipated to allow for enhanced medical services, but the inability to pay for the additional services provided raises questions regarding the sustainability of current healthcare contracts and the overall budget management within the healthcare sector.
The unmet payments had repercussions for healthcare providers, complicating their financial viability and potentially affecting the quality of care delivered to patients. Moving forward, it is essential for policymakers to examine the frameworks supporting healthcare funding to ensure that service providers are adequately compensated for the services they deliver, which is crucial for maintaining a robust healthcare system.
