Medicines prescribed by a doctor in Lithuania can be bought in 2 other countries

The Center of Registers, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, implemented the project of creation and implementation of the information system of the Lithuanian National E-Health Contact Center (LNKC IS). LNKC operates in the common European Union health data exchange infrastructure, which ensures cross-border e-mail of EU residents. exchange of prescriptions and patient summaries. The created functionality allows Lithuania to exchange e-mail prescription data throughout the EU, and also allows EU citizens who have arrived in Lithuania with their e-mail to purchase the medicines they need by prescription in our country.

When the new service is launched, some pharmacies in foreign countries may not be able to immediately successfully connect to cross-border e-mails. prescription system, so it is recommended that before going to buy medicines in Latvia or Poland, you should inquire about the possibility of using the Lithuanian e-mail address of the specific pharmacy by phone. recipe.

“By opening the opportunity for Lithuanian residents to purchase prescription drugs in foreign countries, we are taking an important step towards an even stronger European health union.

Residents of Lithuania who use prescription drugs, who work, study or travel in EU countries, will not need to carry a paper prescription with them, because the electronic prescription issued in Lithuania will be visible and valid in the pharmacy of a foreign country.

Also, Lithuanian citizens living abroad and receiving health services will have the opportunity to purchase prescription drugs in Lithuanian pharmacies when visiting Lithuania. This will reduce inconvenience for travelers and reduce the risk of medication discontinuation. This European-scale project is implemented in stages, starting with two neighboring countries – Latvia and Poland, but later the list of EU countries will continue to be consistently expanded,” says Deputy Minister of Health Oleg Niakšu.

All reimbursable and non-reimbursable prescription drugs can be purchased abroad, except for narcotic, extemporaneous, and branded medicinal products.

Until 2025 March 31 it is not possible to purchase medicinal products in the pharmaceutical form of inhalable medicinal products, powders, powders for injection or infusion solution, or medicinal products in liquid and soft pharmaceutical form. Paper prescriptions must be issued for drugs in these pharmaceutical forms, as well as compensable medical aids, as before.

According to Diana Vilytė, Director of Service Management of the Registry Center, this new functionality will open up even more opportunities to take advantage of the benefits of digital services.

“Every month in Lithuania, more than 1.5 million email prescriptions, pharmacies in the country issue a similar amount of prescription drugs to residents. In the field of digitization of health services, we have advanced further than many EU countries. This new functionality will not only allow residents of the country to purchase prescription drugs abroad, but citizens of foreign countries who have arrived here will be able to do the same in Lithuania”, says D. Vilytė.

The beginning is with the neighboring countries

The first EU country with which Lithuania started to exchange e-mail according to recipe data, there is neighboring Latvia, and cooperation with Poland will also begin next week.

“In Lithuania, all major pharmacy chains of the country contribute to this project, so citizens of Latvia or Poland should have no difficulty in purchasing prescription drugs in our country. The vast majority of Latvian and Polish pharmacies also participate in the project, and very soon the list of cooperating countries will be supplemented by neighboring Estonia, as well as Spain and Finland, which are popular with Lithuanian tourists. We hope that in this way compatriots visiting abroad will not have difficulties in purchasing prescription drugs”, says D. Vilytė.

It is expected that the new opportunities will not only better ensure the health care needs of Lithuanian citizens when traveling in the EU, but will also raise the level of health care services provided to European citizens in Lithuania.

The project was implemented with EU and state budget funds, the technical solution of the Registry Center orders for 0.5 million. implemented by the company “Novian Systems”.

According to the Center of Registers, in 2023, about 20 million were issued in Lithuania. email of prescriptions, about 18 million were issued in pharmacies with them. prescription drugs.