Minister of Health Linas Kukuraitis participated in the Informal Meeting of European Union Health Ministers in Dublin, Ireland, from September 30 to October 1. The meeting was held during Ireland’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. Discussions focused on the importance of innovation for improving patient health and the development of integrated healthcare across the European Union (EU).
Addressing the first session of the Informal Meeting of Health Ministers, Linas Kukuraitis emphasised that the life sciences sector is a strategic priority for both the EU and Lithuania.
“Lithuania’s life sciences ecosystem is growing rapidly. It is therefore particularly important to maintain and further promote the development of the biotechnology sector by creating a favourable, predictable and consistent regulatory environment at EU level. Lithuania supports all joint initiatives and measures aimed at strengthening the EU life sciences sector and creating more favourable conditions for innovations to reach patients across Europe,” said L. Kukuraitis.
During a discussion on strengthening the European medicines ecosystem, the minister highlighted market fragmentation as a major obstacle, limiting timely and equal access to essential medicines, particularly in smaller Member States. He said it was important to go beyond legislation and take practical steps towards harmonising pricing and reimbursement systems.
The second session of the informal meeting focused on EU innovation as a factor in improving population health and developing integrated healthcare.
According to L. Kukuraitis, cooperation between European countries can help Member States expand the use of effective prevention and early-diagnosis models and bring them closer to people.
“The most important thing is that people feel the practical benefits of cooperation at EU level in their everyday lives when receiving healthcare services. Common solutions are needed to reduce the harm caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption, create conditions that make healthier food choices easier, and encourage people to participate more actively in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases,” said the minister.
In Dublin, L. Kukuraitis also held bilateral meetings with Hungary’s Minister of Health Zsolt Hegedűs, the Netherlands’ Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Sophie Hermans, Finland’s Minister of Social Security Karoliina Partanen, Poland’s Minister of Health Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda, and Norway’s Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre.
