Lithuania's regions struggle to attract doctors despite offering cash and housing
Municipalities outside Lithuania's major cities are offering tens of thousands of euros, paid studies and housing to lure doctors, but young medics still prefer big cities. Latvia faces a similar shortage of family doctors in rural areas.
For several years, Lithuania's regions have faced a growing struggle to attract medical specialists outside the country's major cities. The shortage affects both family doctors and specialists in other fields, and the problem is becoming more pronounced each year, according to the news portal Lrytas.
Young doctors increasingly prefer to work in large cities, where they have access to broader professional growth opportunities, bigger teams of colleagues and more modern equipment. As a result, regional hospitals and clinics must compete not only among themselves but also with major university hospitals and the private sector.
An aging medical workforce
In some municipalities, the average age of doctors already exceeds 60. When a specialist retires, finding a replacement can take months, directly affecting patients — waiting lists grow, the workload on remaining doctors increases, and residents sometimes must travel tens or even hundreds of kilometers to receive a consultation or treatment.
To address this, Lithuanian municipalities offer various forms of support — one-time payments, paid studies, coverage of rent and travel costs, and municipal housing. However, experts note that financial incentives alone are no longer enough — young specialists also value professional growth, working conditions and quality of life.
A similar situation in Latvia
In Latvia too, attracting doctors to the regions remains a significant challenge. The Ministry of Health acknowledges that the generational turnover of family doctors and attracting new specialists to work outside Riga is one of the key challenges in healthcare. To address this, in 2026 additional funding of 4.8 million euros is planned for bonuses for family doctors in rural areas, raising the average additional support per doctor from about 5,700 to 8,600 euros per year.
