E. Diržius and E. Narkevičius become the new Deputy Ministers of Health
Edgaras Diržius and Edgaras Narkevičius, who previously worked as advisers to the Minister of Health, will take up their posts as Deputy Ministers of Health on Tuesday, 3 September. Mr Diržius will be responsible for personal, public and mental health, while Mr Narkevičius will be in charge of pharmaceuticals and human resources policy.
"The new Vice-Ministers will ensure smooth cooperation and constructive dialogue with key players and stakeholders in the health care system, as well as to complete the work started by this Government and ensure its continuity. As Vice-Ministers are not new to the Ministry, I have no doubt in their ability to effectively take over the work and curate these crucial areas, ensuring the interests of the state and its citizens: further reducing queues in medical institutions and the administrative burden on medical staff, improving the accessibility of medicines and mental health services for patients," says Minister of Health Aurimas Pečkauskas.
Focus on transformation of treatment facilities and reducing the use of psychoactive substances
The new Deputy Minister for Health, Edgaras Diržius, will be responsible for health care institutions, nursing, public health and other parts of the health system. "I will focus on the operation of personal health centres, mental health care reform, and the less visible but important work in public health, such as managing the spread of infections or the safety of devices, will receive more attention. It will also address the challenges posed by substance abuse," said Deputy Health Minister Diržius.
The Deputy Minister has served as an advisor to the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkis since 3 November 2023, advising the Minister on personal and public mental health issues. Prior to that, he worked as a psychiatrist at Kaunas Clinics, as well as the head of the Centre for Treatment Resistant Mental Disorders and the Coordination of Inpatient Services. He is one of the founders of the Association of Young Psychiatrists.
E. Diržius is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, where he obtained a Master's degree in Medical Health and a specialty of psychiatrist. He is currently pursuing his doctoral studies at the same university and is also involved in teaching activities. Diržius has published several international scientific articles in the field of psychiatry.
Focus on increasing access to medicines
The new Deputy Minister of Health, E. Narkevičius, will focus on pharmaceutical policy. "I see the main objectives as improving access to medicines for the population, with a particular focus on improving access to innovative medicines, strengthening medicines monitoring to manage medicines shortages more effectively and improving the physical availability of medicines in the regions, and improving eHealth by reducing the administrative burden on healthcare and pharmaceutical professionals," says Deputy Minister of Health E. Narkevičius.
Deputy Minister Narkevičius has served as an advisor to the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkis since 23 October 2023, advising and consulting the Minister on pharmaceuticals, their regulation and pricing, as well as medical innovation.
The new Deputy Minister has more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector in Lithuania and other Baltic countries. He has held various positions, including management positions, in multinational pharmaceutical companies and has been responsible for the introduction of medicines, project management, stakeholder and government relations.
E. Narkevičius is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, where he qualified as a medical doctor, and of the Faculty of Economics of the same university, where he obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration.
Currently, the Ministry of Health has a total of three Vice-Ministers - in addition to the two newly appointed Vice-Ministers, Vice-Minister Oleg Niaksu is responsible for the digitalisation and modernisation of the healthcare system and the deployment of e-health solutions.
Last updated: 12-11-2024
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