The First Decade of Reforms: Lithuanian Health Care Sector in the Context of Social and Economic Changes - Softcover

Cerniauskas, Gediminas; Murauskiene, Liubove

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9986935121 ISBN 13: 9789986935124

Publisher: Health Economics Centre, 2001

Synopsis

We would like to present the book THE FIRST DECADE OF REFORMS: Lithuanian Health Care Sector in the Context of Social and Economic Changes. Likely, it is the first attempt to analyze 10 years of health care sector reforms in broad context of social-economic changes. The book provides an analysis of health policy, health care resources, organization, governing and financing as well as various opinions on health care reforms in Lithuania since 1989.

There are two parts in this book: I. SOCIAL-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN LITHUANIA IN 1989 II. DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR IN LITHUANIA

In the first part you will find articles about: Development of Lithuanian Economy in 1989; Social Development and Its Factors; The Demographic Situation in Lithuania in 1990.

The second part of the book presents: Health Policy Development; Health Care Resources in Lithuania and Their Structure; Health Care Organisational Structure and Provision of Services; Health Care Management; Health Care Financing Reform; Lithuanian Health Insurance System; A Comparison with Other Candidates Countries.

About this title

About the Author

Significant part of the presented book have written by Mr. Gediminas Cerniauskas and Ms. Liubove Murauskiene.

Ph D Gediminas Cerniauskas graduated from Vilnius University, School of Economics. In 1987 received Ph. D. in Economics.

In 1983-1986 worked in the Institute of Economics (Lithuanian Academy of Science) as a researcher. In 1990-1992 worked in the Ministry of Health of Lithuania as a Chief of Economics Department. In 1994-1997 worked as a local PHARE expert in Health Care Reform Management Bureau (Ministry of Health of Lithuania). Since 1993 he is a director of company Health Economics Centre.

Key qualifications: advice and assistance, development of strategies, education and training, pilot studies, pricing of pharmaceuticals and health services, social policy analysis, fiscal policy assessment, investment planning.

Ph D Liubove Murauskiene graduated from M. Lomonosov Moscow State University, School of Economics. In 1988 received Ph. D. in Economics.

In 1989-1991 worked in the Institute of Economics (Lithuanian Academy of Science) as a researcher and in Lithuanian Pedagogical University as a lecturer on Economics. In 1991-1993 worked in the Lithuanian Institute of Labour and Social Research as a Senior Researcher. In 1994-1997 worked in Health Care Reform Management Bureau (Ministry of Health of Lithuania) as a Health Economist. Since 1994 she is a Programme Director and Expert of company Health Economics Centre.

Key qualifications: advice and assistance, development of strategies, education and training, pilot studies, pricing of pharmaceuticals and health services, social policy analysis, business and investment planning.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Lithuania celebrated the 10th anniversary of its independence on 11 March 2000. 10 years of reforms were marked by successes in developing market economy as well as sustainable social safety net. Lithuania has opened itself to international markets of goods, services and ideas, eliminated the shortage of goods which was common for the soviet world. Lithuania is regarded as functioning market economy by the EU since 2000. Achievements were great but the price that has been paid was high too. Structural changes resulted in a recession of 1990-1994. GDP dived at a scope comparable or even exceeding that of the Great Depression of the first halve of the 20th century, inflation was up to 1000 percent in 1992. Social indicators followed the same pattern. Mass poverty, unemployment, increased mortality were examples of social problems that Lithuanian people had been confronted with. Since 1995 situation has been changing for better. GDP is growing, annual inflation is less then 3 percent in 1999-2000.

Period of 1990-2000 was a time of radical economic changes. It was the time of big changes in people's minds too. 15 years ago very few people in Lithuania had an understanding about market economy or health insurance. Even 10 years ago it were mainly emissaries of the World Bank or other UN related organizations (e.g. the World Health Organization) supported by small group of local academicians that promoted radical changes. 70 percent of the labour force has been employed privately as for year 2000. It looks like in a few years time just a small group of academicians would be interested in realities of soviet system. Probably the soviet system deserves to be of marginal importance as a research topic but it has not to be like this as socioeconomic changes are concerned. Socioeconomic systems in general and health care systems in particular will be changed. Lithuania has obtained experience of radical changes. Certain positive and, unfortunately, negative experiences has been gained.

The book is an attempt to present these experiences to an international audience. It is a translation of the Lithuanian edition published in summer 2000. Lithuania (as health sector is concerned) had been visited by certain European and oversees experts during nineties. Several studies on Lithuanian health sector are prepared by the WB, EU Phare, the WHO.

Edition details

• Publisher: Health Economics Centre
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9986935121
• ISBN 13: 9789986935124
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 251