Information for Patients – Where to Seek Care Outside Working Hours

We inform you that as of January 1, 2025, an amendment to the Order of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania (December 5, 2005) “On the organization of primary outpatient personal healthcare services and the procedure for reimbursement of these services” has come into force. According to this amendment, family clinics must ensure that services provided by the family physician team are available to registered patients for at least 12 hours per day, 5 working days per week.

Please note that prior to this amendment, family clinics were required to ensure 24/7 availability of family doctor services. Therefore, all primary healthcare institutions had agreements with other institutions providing round-the-clock services.

Following the amendments effective January 1, 2025, patients are informed that urgent outpatient care on weekends and public holidays is provided at urgent care units or emergency departments. The provision of these services is coordinated by municipal centers.

According to clarifications by the Ministry of Health, emergency departments may provide care for acute conditions that fall within the competence of a family physician:

For Adults:

Pain evaluated at 4–6 points or higher and not relieved by maximum medication doses
Fever above 38°C lasting more than 72 hours
Trauma occurring more than 48 hours ago, with increasing pain and swelling, including minor injuries (no imaging required)
Progressive acute allergic reaction with rash and itching, without signs of anaphylaxis
Acute nausea, recurrent vomiting, or diarrhea without signs of systemic intoxication
Animal bites or scratches not requiring surgical wound treatment
Wound dressing after surgical procedures when no further surgical care is needed
Heart rhythm disorder lasting longer than 48 hours in patients not taking anticoagulants and where rhythm restoration is not possible
Issuance of a medical certificate for temporary incapacity for work due to an acute condition or for the care of a sick child (first time)
Superficial eye infections starting more than 48 hours ago
Superficial foreign bodies
Minor burns without any of the following: circular burns; airway burns; burns involving the face or neck; burns in the perineal area; burns involving joints; high kinetic energy burns

For Children:

(excluding infants) Fever above 37.8°C lasting more than 24 hours and not responding to antipyretics
Newly developed and spreading rash within 24 hours
Acute pain not relieved by analgesics
Acute or recurrent vomiting and/or diarrhea without signs of dehydration
Pain or discomfort during urination (dysuria)
Acute allergic reaction with rash or swelling without signs of anaphylaxis
Superficial wounds not requiring surgical intervention
Tick bite within the last **