In the initial weeks, most calls were informational in nature. People primarily inquired whether the service was available to them. By the end of July, an average of 302 calls were received daily.
According to Pakarskienė, the shuttle service is most frequently utilized in the country’s major municipalities: Kaunas, Vilnius, Šiauliai, and Klaipėda.
Most transportation services for patients are provided by private companies, with GPMT doctors occasionally transporting a small percentage of patients.
While accounting for a small percentage of overall rides, GMPT’s shuttle service transported approximately 5-6 people out of a daily total of 100.
From July, residents across Lithuania can request a ride to healthcare facilities by dialing 1808. Eligibility criteria include those requiring hemodialysis or transplants, individuals aged 75 and above, those with disabilities or other social needs, and those with limited working capacity.
The pilot project for the shuttle service was launched in March last year in 20 municipalities.
Over the first half of its implementation, the service provided 9,200 transportation services, with 7,800 for patients with kidney diseases requiring hemodialysis.