The fourth group of Lithuanian medics, who returned from Ukraine, completed their internship right near the front line
The fourth group of Lithuanian medics — three traumatologists and an anesthesiologist from Kaunas Clinics — have completed a two-week internship in Ukraine and returned to Lithuania. This extraordinary mission allowed the Lithuanian specialists to gain experience working alongside Ukrainian medical professionals near the front line.
"This mission was exceptional because it was initiated by the medics themselves, who demonstrated determination, courage, and a willingness to test themselves under real wartime conditions. Together with Ukrainian military doctors, they had to work just 10 kilometers from the front line, helping severely wounded soldiers evacuated from there. Even the most experienced members of the team admitted that they saw some severe injuries in real life for the first time ever," said Skirmantas Krunkaitis, advisor to the Minister of Health.
The medics also aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how stabilization points operate, including their deployment and setup specifics. Experience was gained at four stabilization points—these are field medical aid stations, some of which are located underground, where wounded soldiers arrive directly from the front line. Here, medics are faced with extremely severe injuries and complex, life-threatening conditions. After providing essential emergency care and stabilizing the soldiers' condition, they are immediately transferred further to the rear, to civilian and military hospitals.
"The operation of stabilization points is still a largely unfamiliar area for us civilian medics, so there was a strong desire to gain as much knowledge as possible about their setup, functioning, nature of work, and the necessary equipment—in case we would need to work in such points alongside military doctors. This is the most critical stage in providing medical aid to the wounded, and the effectiveness of this stage directly determines the fate and even the lives of the injured. It has now become much clearer what kind of specialists and equipment we need to plan for during preparedness, and what additional competencies certain specialists must acquire," says Professor Alfredas Smailys, a trauma and orthopedic surgeon who joined the internship for the second time with his team of trauma specialists.
According to the minister’s advisor, S. Krunkaitis, Lithuanian medics interning in Ukraine are not only making a significant contribution to the country’s defense against Russian aggression but are also learning very specific and necessary skills, thereby strengthening Lithuania’s preparedness for potential crises. Upon returning to Lithuania, they participate in training sessions and share their experience with their colleagues.
The ongoing and increasingly close cooperation with various medical aid institutions, organizations, and Ukrainian institutions is opening up more opportunities for our medics to gain experience in different stages of medical assistance in Ukraine. The continuous collaboration with Mechnikov Hospital in the city of Dnipro is also serving as a catalyst for other projects and partnerships between specific healthcare institutions and specialists, fostering mutual exchange of experience and support from both sides.
Internships for Lithuanian medics in Ukraine began to be organized this spring, through cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the non-governmental organization “Blue/Yellow,” and healthcare institutions. Medics from all regions of Lithuania are eligible to participate. At least two more internships are planned before autumn, with medics from the Vilnius and Panevėžys regions set to take part.