Lithuanians increasingly unhappy with health care, Veryga – Vilmorus/Lietuvos Rytas poll

According to the survey, the ranks of favouring the health care system narrowed by six percentage points over the past month – from 49.7 percent in October to 43.5 percent in November.

“This is a lot – although not the lowest indicator but (a drop by) six percentage points within a month,” Vilmorus CEO Vladas Gaidys said.

The ratings of Veryga also declined to 19.3 percent of respondents this month from 23.9 percent in October.

The sociologist said the escalating public discontent probably has do do with the much-criticized decisions in the field of prescription medication.

“Without doubt, this has to do with the prescription drugs and purchasing of drugs – these problems took a toll on the minister and the health care system,” he added.

In Gaidys’ words, part of the survey was carried out before the major eruption of discontent over the prescription drugs, therefore, the decline is likely to deepen later.

In November, the Health Ministry introduced mystery shopping in pharmacies, which has led to patients complaining that pharmacists began to demand a prescription for some prescription medications they used to sell without one.

Lithuania’s parliamentary opposition last week collected the signatures necessary for launching interpellation procedure against the health minister to demand answers to questions about the situation surrounding prescription medications, as well as about a decision not to increase doctors’ salaries next January, political appointees’ employment, and alleged pressure on the directors of bodies subordinate to the ministry to resign from their posts.