Project "Development of the model for the provision of youth-friendly health care services"
About the project
Project code – NOR-LT11-SAM-01-K-01-002
Project promoter – Joint stock company Health Economics Centre
Project partners – Budgetary Institution Health Education and Disease Prevention Centre, Public Institution Rokiškis primary health care center and Public Health Bureau of Rokiškis District Municipality
Amount of grant assistance and co-financing is 417 837,13 Eur (1 442 708,05 Lt)
The health of youth in Lithuania is lagging behind other members states of the EU and there is a lack of attention devoted to public health. Lithuania has one of the highest mortality rates, strongly influenced by external causes of death and the largest suicide rate in the EU. Other health related indicators are also worrying: relatively high underage pregnancy rates, high consumption of alcohol, high smoking prevalence and increasingly more youth is likely to be overweight than in the past. Research suggests that psychological and behaviour related factors (in 2010) accounted for 30% of all diseases that youth faces (DALY) while external health causes accounted for another 33% of deaths and illnesses. There is no single comprehensive, coordinated and adapted for youth health needs health care delivery model in Lithuania.
Project objective is to develop and implement the model of provision of youth-friendly health care services (hereinafter – YFHCS) in Lithuania, with the main function – applying the service provision protocols to unite into the single network all existing providers of health care services and facilitating their cooperation to render more effective health care services adapted for young people ensuring reduction in health inequalities.
The project consists of a development, validation, adaptation of YFHCS model, pilot implementation of the model in Rokiškis municipality and consulting municipalities implementing model in a later phase.
YFHCS model include:
1. Establishment of Coordinating Centre in the Public health bureau, which employs active, motivated and trained coordinator who will organize the low threshold, case management and human rights principles-based health care services.
2. Establishment of National internet portal in which youth can obtain reliable, systematic, easily accessible information compiled by experts in a clear and attractive form. This will help youth make healthy life choices and find contacts of health providers. Additionally, youth should be able to connect with the health service providers directly via digital media. The portal will also have a section for the health experts in which the protocols and methodology will be placed and a network of contacts created to encourage communication. Furthermore, during the project several free Wi-Fi hubs will help the youth familiarize with the portal.
3. Establishment of YFHS institutional and functional network based on principle of case management. Complex cross-sectorial and inter-institutional activity network of health care services will be described in 4 protocols (formalized performance algorithms). The protocols will be prepared, and will specify services provision algorithms for mental health, nutrition, reproductive health, and external causes of death prevention.
4. Elaboration of methodological guidance for YFHCS model implementation and provision of youth-friendly health services.
The developed model will contribute the improvement of youth health and quality of life, reduction of mortality and health inequality as well as improvement of social and economic well-being in Lithuania.
For more information visit project's promoters webpage
Young person (youth) – means a person (persons) of 14–29 years of age.
Youth-friendly health care services – means a set health care services satisfying the needs of youth, which covers the services of treatment and prevention (including monitoring) of diseases and consulting services (also on social matters), including health education and training adapted to the needs of youth, and complies with the following criteria defined by the World Health Organisation:
- accessible to youth – free or affordable, with easy registration or without registration, short waiting time;
- non-discriminating;
- guaranteeing confidentiality and privacy;
- meeting the needs of physical, social and psychological health and development of each young person;
- services should be rendered by competent staff;
- safe environment meeting the needs of young people.
Model for the provision of youth-friendly health care services means the entirety of provisions encompassing youth health care (treatment, diagnostics, prevention and monitoring) and consulting services, defining the mission, vision, principles, goals and tasks of the system of services, covering the organisation, management and financing of the provision of services and of the motivation of healthy lifestyle in the forms most acceptable to youth as well as ensuring their quality and monitoring.
Priority areas of the provision of youth-friendly health care services:
- strengthening of mental health;
- promoting health diets, prevention of diseases relating to diet and physical activity;
- prevention of traumas and accidents (avoided deaths);
- improving sexual and reproductive health.
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Last updated: 03-12-2023