Meritorious doctors, nurses and a health worker were honored in Vilnius
On 30 April, the traditional awards for the Most Meritorious Lithuanian Medics, organised by the Ministry of Health, were held at the Palace of the Grand Dukes in Vilnius. The Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys awarded 26 doctors, 27 nurses and 22 health care workers for their dedication to their profession, hard and sacrificial work and outstanding services to the health system.
Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys, congratulating the doctors and the entire healthcare community on the occasion, said that after all the challenges that we have had to endure over the past few years, we need to focus on the work ahead.
"We need the trust of doctors in patients and patients in doctors, doctors in nurses and nurses in doctors. Trust in each other is vital for all of us to come together. I wish that our entire community of almost 50,000 members sees the main immediate goal as building trust - trust in their profession, regardless of who they work for and where they work, trust in healthcare, trust in the State and its ability to ensure that everyone has access to treatment and care," said Mr Dulkys.
Congratulating on the occasion of the last Lithuanian Medical Workers' Day, which is celebrated annually on 27 April, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė thanked all the dedicated, professional and empathetic medical professionals who work every day for the sake of every person's health, the possibility of a fulfilling life, and even the life of a patient.
"You are the true guardians of our society, without whom we would not be able to grow Lithuania so successfully and overcome various challenges. Lithuanian medics are appreciated all over the world - they are highly qualified specialists, who not only have a lot of necessary knowledge and dedication to their chosen profession, but also the desire to constantly improve, to be interested in innovations, to be able to help their patients in every possible way. I am also glad that in recent years we have been hearing more and more often not only about Lithuanians working abroad in prestigious jobs, but also about those medical aces who return to Lithuania and generously share their experience and innovative ideas," said I. Šimonytė.
"The path you have chosen is difficult, but exceptional and meaningful. Your daily life ranges from miracles to losses. Thank you for your sacrifice, your care, your help, your hope, your words of comfort to those who need it most. May a sincere look and warm words today be dedicated only to you," Antanas Matulas, Chairman of the Health Affairs Committee of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, sent his greetings to the Lithuanian medics.
75 deserving national medics was honoured
This year, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Lithuanian Medical Workers' Day, the Ministry of Health received more than three hundred applications from all over Lithuania for the honourable award.
The nominees for this highest award of the medical community were selected on the basis of their long-standing and impeccable work, taking into account their outstanding contribution to the Lithuanian health system, the implementation of innovative technological and sustainable management solutions, as well as for the promotion of the name of Lithuania, the fostering and development of interstate relations, the education of the younger generation of medical professionals, sacrifice and courage in saving people's lives, and other merits.
In addition to the traditional nominations, this year's ceremony also featured with the Minister of Health's award for Health Management Solutions. For his leadership in the establishment of the Health Centre, A. Dulkys thanked the Mayor of Švenčionys District Municipality Rimantas Klipčius, while the Head of the GMP Service Nerijus Mikelionis was thanked for the establishment of the National Ambulance Service and the introduction of unified standards for the GMP Service. The Head of Kaunas Polyclinic, Paulius Kibiša, was also honoured with the Minister's gratitude for his exemplary primary care and the transfer of health management ideas throughout Lithuania.
During the awards ceremony, special attention was paid to the Lithuanian health care workers who have contributed to the assistance to the struggling Ukraine. Acknowledgements were presented to: Vygintas Grinis, coordinator of the project "Psychological support for Ukrainian refugee families", Aina Adomaityte, President of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, Arūnas Valiulis, Professor of the Children's Diseases Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, and Arūnas Valiulis, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University, Mindaugas Šerpyčius, Head of the Centre for Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management at VUL Santaros Clinics, Martynas Marcinkevičius, Director of the Mental Health Centre of Vilnius City, and Modestas Kriukelius, Head of the pharmacy of Eurovaistinė in Ukmergė.
Patients' favourites awarded
For the second year in a row, the news portal Lrytas.lt also presented awards to the most beloved medics who received the most thanks on the platform "Thanks to medics". This year, more than a thousand thank-yous came from all over Lithuania: for creating a miracle over the operating table, for a joke that took the fear away, or for their endless patience and care for health. More than 800 medical staff in the country were thanked, and 11,000 votes of support were cast by patients and colleagues in support of their favourites.
The five specialists who received the most support and were awarded the prizes were: general nurse Jolanta Šliaužienė of Lazdijai Health Centre, nursing administrator Daiva Žalgevičienė of Šilutė PSPC, family doctor Vida Milda Klimienė of Kazlų Rūda PSPC, neurologist Rita Stasevičienė of Utena Hospital and obstetrician-gynaecologist Danguolė Vildaitė of The Republican Vilnius University Hospital.
"Medical professionals have a very important and responsible mission. It is not always possible to thank the specialist who helped at the moment when help was most needed. We are glad to be able to contribute to the opportunity to draw attention to and thank medical workers, to appreciate their efforts and at the same time to remind them of the importance of their contribution in the fight for every human being," said Tautvydas Mikalajūnas, Editor-in-Chief and Director of the news portal lrytas.lt, congratulating the medical staff.
The titles of Meritorious Doctors and Healthcare Workers have been awarded since 2004, and the titles of Meritorious Lithuanian Nurses since 2015. Throughout the history of the awards, 374 doctors, 137 nurses and 420 healthcare workers have been honoured with the title of Meritorious Lithuanian Doctors, together with this year's nominees.