VILNIUS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania's parliament adopted on Thursday amendments to the Law on Health Insurance, which will guarantee full reimbursement for medication and medical supplies to elderly and low-income people in the country.
The new rule will be applied to medicines which are currently partially reimbursed by the state. The amendments provide that medications will be 100 percent reimbursed to all persons aged 75 and over. Free medications will also be available to low-income pensioners and disabled people.
"It is a historic step towards wellbeing and social justice in Lithuania as the financial burden on low-income people will be significantly reduced," Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga was quoted as saying in a statement released by his ministry.
According to Veryga, 4.1 million euros (4.56 million U.S. dollars) will be needed to implement the amendments, which will enter into force in July 2020.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization, have long recommended that Lithuania guarantee fully reimbursed medicines to the most socially disadvantaged persons, Veryga underlined.
For now, low-income persons, like all other insured persons, have to pay a certain surcharge when purchasing state-reimbursed medicines.
