Lithuanian Government Warns Nurse Shortage Could Reach 4,500
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Loading... - Jarvis Watson
- 25 Mar 2025
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Lithuania's healthcare system is facing a significant challenge, with a government report indicating that the shortage of nurses could escalate to as high as 4,500 in the coming years. Medical professionals and industry organizations have raised alarms about the overworked nursing staff, low wages, and poor working conditions that are exacerbating the crisis.
Auristida Gerliakienė from the Medical Movement, a doctors' association, highlighted the alarming trend, stating, “We are losing 400 nurses every year because about 600 leave the system and about 200 graduate and enter the system.” Currently, the Lithuanian healthcare network is short approximately 3,000 nurses, but projections suggest that this number could exceed 4,500 within seven years if no action is taken.
A 2024 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) on long-term care in Lithuania noted that workforce shortages are “widespread,” particularly in rural areas. The report indicated that long-term care providers are struggling to recruit nursing assistants and nurses, including advanced practice nurses, due to challenging working conditions and inadequate pay.
Low Wages and Working Conditions
The report revealed that in 2022, the healthcare and social work sector had the lowest average gross hourly pay in Lithuania at just €7.90. In contrast, workers in accommodation and food services earned nearly three times that amount, at €19.90. The WHO emphasized that improving salaries and working conditions is essential to alleviating workforce pressures in the healthcare sector.
While wages for healthcare workers are expected to rise by 10% this year, experts argue that the government must invest in long-term strategies to attract healthcare professionals from abroad and encourage Lithuanian nurses who have emigrated to return. Marius Čiurlionis, president of the Baltic Association for Palliative Care, suggested that Lithuania should “invite nurses to study here and allocate some state funds so that these people could learn the language, understand our health system, and some of the culture, and then integration would be much more effective.”
Government Initiatives
In response to the growing crisis, the Lithuanian health ministry has announced plans to fund wage increases and provide incentives to attract more individuals into the nursing profession. This includes offering scholarships and housing arrangements for nursing students. Ministry spokesperson Diana Smaliukaitė stated that contracts will stipulate that recipients of state funding must work for at least two years in the institution that covers their tuition fees and provides scholarships.
As Lithuania grapples with this pressing issue, the government’s commitment to addressing the nursing shortage will be crucial in ensuring the sustainability and quality of healthcare services in the country. Without significant improvements in working conditions and compensation, the healthcare system may continue to struggle with staffing shortages, ultimately impacting patient care and outcomes.
