Lithuania asks hospitals to ensure better service access for foreigners

Lithuanian hospitals and other health care institutions should be better prepared to provide services to foreigners and provide more information in English and other foreign languages, the country's Ministry of Health said in its guidelines presented on Tuesday.

"Many foreign citizens work, spend their holidays and travel in Lithuania. Sometimes they need to address our health institutions due to medical conditions, yet their communication with medical workers might be hindered by language barriers," vice health minister Lina Jaruseviciene said in the statement.

Better communication would have a direct impact on the quality of healthcare in Lithuania and patient satisfaction, she added.

The specific guidelines, prepared by the ministry, address the country's major hospitals which receive the largest number of foreign patients.

According to the ministry's recommendations, the hospitals should prepare the lists of medical and other workers who can speak English, Polish, Russian, German and French. The lists should be made available on Internet and in hospital emergency departments.

Hospitals are also encouraged to provide the reception desk information in English, as well as publish more relevant information in English on their websites.

The ministry expects its recommendations to be implemented by March 1, 2020.