Simplified referral procedure for long-term follow-up of patients with chronic diseases

In order to further reduce the administrative burden of doctors and shorten the patient’s journey, the Ministry of Health updated the procedure for long-term monitoring of patients with chronic diseases. From now on, it will no longer be necessary to contact a family doctor for referral for long-term follow-up – if a specialist doctor determines the need for long-term follow-up, the patient will be immediately registered for long-term follow-up at the same institution or will receive a referral if he chooses another treatment institution for long-term follow-up.

Having identified such a need, the specialist doctor will draw up an action plan for the long-term monitoring of the patient’s health condition for the current year and determine the date of the next consultation and the diagnostic tests and procedures to be performed before it. The action plan for the current year will indicate the periodicity of specialist doctor’s consultations, necessary diagnostic tests and procedures, treatment and other actions.

Long-term monitoring will be offered to the patient at the nearest treatment facility at the place of residence. If the necessary services are not provided there or the patient does not agree, he will be informed about at least two other medical institutions where the necessary services are provided.

If the patient chooses long-term follow-up at the same institution where active inpatient or active specialized outpatient treatment is completed, he will immediately be registered for a visit by a specialist doctor at that institution. If the patient chooses long-term follow-up at a different treatment facility than the one where active inpatient or active specialized outpatient treatment is completed, the patient will receive a referral and will have to register for an assigned consultation at the selected treatment facility.

As before, after starting long-term monitoring, the patient will have to be sent for the first consultation of a specialist doctor after completing the necessary tests and procedures. Their results will be evaluated by a specialist doctor and discussed with the patient during the first visit. After assessing the patient’s health condition, ordering new tests as needed and prescribing the necessary drugs, the specialist doctor will set a date and time for the next consultation, to which the patient can already come without a referral.

Chronic diseases that cause the greatest mortality in Lithuania are cardiovascular and oncological diseases. Ophthalmologists, endocrinologists and hematologists provide the most long-term monitoring services to patients: in 2023 these services were provided to 40.6 thousand, 22.6 thousand, respectively. and 10.7 thousand

You can find the order of the Minister of Health on changing the procedure for long-term monitoring of patients with chronic diseases HERE.

SAM Communications Department