VILNIUS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania is currently facing a shortage of approximately 3,000 nurses, and experts warn this figure could rise to 5,000 if the issue is not addressed, local broadcaster LRT reported on Monday.
"We are losing 400 nurses annually because about 600 leave the system each year while only around 200 graduate and enter the profession," said Auristida Gerliakiene, board chair of the Medical Movement of Lithuania.
The shortage has led to overworked staff, exacerbating burnout rates. "Staff are overwhelmed. We see cases where they work 24-hour shifts, only to take a second job on their days off, often at another healthcare facility for several days," said Marius Ciurlionis, president of the Baltic Association for Palliative Care.
Adding to the crisis is the severe lack of nurses' assistants. "According to recommendations, there should be two assistants per nurse. To meet this standard, Lithuania is currently short of nearly 40,000 nurses' assistants," Ciurlionis explained.
LRT highlighted the need for urgent reforms to prevent the healthcare system from collapsing. Key recommendations include improving infrastructure, enhancing working conditions, redistributing workloads between nurses and their assistants, and raising salaries.
Welcoming healthcare professionals from abroad is another potential solution, according to Gerliakiene. "Lithuania should invite nurses to study here and allocate state funds to help them learn the language, understand our health system and culture, and integrate effectively," Ciurlionis added.
Efforts to bring back Lithuanian nurses currently working abroad should also be considered, experts suggest.
The ongoing challenges are discouraging young people from pursuing nursing as a career. While the Nursing Department at Vilnius College receives over 100 applications annually, the number is gradually decreasing.
"For several years now, applicants have been required to pass a math exam, which has contributed to the slight decline in student numbers," said Jurgita Stankuniene, head of the Nursing Department at Vilnius College.
The Ministry of Health has outlined a plan to address the crisis, including increasing the number of state-funded places in higher education and raising salaries.
"Tuition fee waivers, scholarships, allowances, and housing support are among the measures we're introducing," said Diana Smaliukaite, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health. The ministry also emphasized the importance of retaining graduates within the healthcare sector and preventing them from leaving for opportunities abroad or in other industries. ■