The European Commission recommends that Lithuania scrap energy subsidies, strengthen primary health care, improve social services, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and energy imports.
The EC recommends that Lithuania “wind down the energy support measures in force by the end of 2023”, it said in its recommendations to the country for 2023, published on Wednesday.
“Should renewed energy price increases necessitate support measures, ensure that these are targeted at protecting vulnerable households and firms, fiscally affordable, and preserve incentives for energy savings,” it said.
“Further reduce reliance on fossil fuels and imported energy by accelerating the deployment of renewables, in particular, by ensuring sufficient grid capacity and access, ensuring the transformation and decarbonisation of industrial production, increasing the uptake of public and sustainable transport and making buildings more energy efficient,” the EC added.
It also recommends that Lithuania “ensure the sufficient capacity of electricity interconnections to increase the security of supply, continuing the timely synchronisation with the EU electricity grid".
While maintaining a sound fiscal position, Lithuania should “preserve nationally financed public investment and ensure the effective absorption of RRF grants and other EU funds, in particular, to foster the green and digital transitions”.
Underfunded healthcare
According to the EC report, Lithuania’s health sector is underfunded and faces medical staff shortages.
“Most challenges in Lithuania’s health system are linked to structural underfunding of the health sector and insufficient resources at the primary care level and in public health offices,” the EC said in its Country Report Lithuania 2023.
“The challenges are exacerbated by shortages and an uneven distribution of health professionals, which limit access to primary healthcare,” it added. “The geographical spread of doctors presents a challenge, as the highest concentration of doctors is in the two biggest cities.”
Compared to other EU member states, Lithuania “has a high number of avoidable hospital admissions and one of the highest measures of treatable and preventable mortality”, according to the report.
“Life expectancy remains among the lowest in the EU, having dropped further between 2020 and 2021. Lithuania has the highest rate of mortality from suicide in the EU. The share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare is almost double the EU average,” it said.
The EC also noted that shortages of nurses remain a persistent issue in Lithuania.
“While the number of doctors continues to grow, the number of nurses has not kept pace and remains below the EU average,” it said.
Moreover, disease prevention remains a challenge in Lithuania as Covid-19 caused major disruptions to disease prevention programs, particularly those tackling cardiovascular diseases and treatable cancers, according to the report.
“There is scope for improvement in cancer care, both in better screening coverage and higher survival rates for many treatable cancers,” it said.
“The highest rate of mortality from suicide in the EU also suggests the potential for preventive measures to foster better mental well-being,” the report added.
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