President leaves health minister candidate’s appointment under consideration

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has met with Linas Kukuraitis, the Democratic Union “For Lithuania” nominee for health minister, but has reserved further judgment on the appointment, LRT.lt reports.

According to the president’s chief advisor, Vaidas Augustinavičius, the discussion focused on the balance between public and private sectors in healthcare. The president sought clarity on whether Kukuraitis would continue the policy direction of the outgoing minister, which prioritised the public sector and regional accessibility of services regardless of cost.

“The president wants to assess whether the candidate will be able to withstand the pressure from the State Patient Fund, which advocates for optimisation and cost-based service provision. However, the president believes the most important thing is the proximity of services to the residents,” Augustinavičius told journalists.

Kukuraitis described the meeting as “substantive” and “constructive,” stating that healthcare is essential for building public trust and a sense of justice. He denied feeling pressure from the State Patient Fund and emphasised the need for sufficient and accessible services in the regions. He also highlighted his experience in social policy, which he said is closely linked to healthcare.

When asked about his five children being born at home, Kukuraitis said such births are “a personal choice” and do not reflect negatively on Lithuania’s healthcare system.

If appointed, Kukuraitis said his priorities would include strengthening public health, reducing preventable mortality, improving child health, and integrating care systems for the elderly and people with disabilities. He also stressed the importance of preparedness for extreme situations and supported mandatory regional service for newly graduated doctors.