Info

Coordinating Institution
Higienos Institutas
National Node Description

Lithuania has not created an official National Node. Health information institutions are communicating in working order.

Governance and legal framework
Legal framework and institutional responsibilities

Overall responsibility for general supervision of the entire health system is held by the Ministry of Health. It is strongly involved in the creation of the legal basis for the health sector. It also runs healthcare facilities and public health institutions and has the overall responsibility for health system performance. The MoH develops healthcare infrastructure and prepares national health programs. In conjunction with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance, it makes decisions on major investments.

Health information strategy

The priorities of development/improvement of HIS are set by the government (The Programme of the Government) or by the Ministry of Health (strategical working plan, working plan of the year). The initiative could come from the institutions, but this should be approved by the MoH as usually the financial questions are involved in the development/improvement of HIS. Every Information System or Register has its own legal acts/regulations which should be approved by a range of Ministries and institutions. 

Health information sources and players
Main players (institutions)
  • Ministry of Health (MoH) - overall responsibility for general supervision of the entire health system. The main aims of the MoH are the development, organization, coordination, and control over the implementation of state policy.
  • National Health Insurance Fund  - process data on health services, compensated medicines and medical aids.    
  • Institute of Hygiene - collects statistics on mortality, healthcare resources and service utilization at national, regional and local levels.
  • Statistics Lithuania - collect official statistics on  demography, socio-economic, social status; System of health accounts (SHA); Alcohol and tobacco consumption; conduct Health interview survey (HIS). 
  • Health-related registries and other administrative sources: Cancer register, Communicable diseases register, etc.  
Health information infrastructure and management
Health information infrastructure and management

Health data in Lithuania is mainly collected by public agencies operating under the Ministry of Health. These are mainly the Health Information Centre, a unit within the Institute of Hygiene, and the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. The Fund provides information on healthcare services to patients, including information on insurance, benefits, providers, and waiting times. The Institute of Hygiene receives information from several agencies and provides the main information and analysis to the higher level (MoH, government, parliament).

Existence of a unique patient identifier or general personal identifier?
No
Updated on 30 May 2021