Kaunas District to launch citizen assembly on preventive healthcare

The Kaunas District is launching a citizen assembly to address barriers to preventive healthcare. Starting in mid-September, 30 randomly selected residents will meet with experts to discuss why people delay medical check-ups and develop specific recommendations for the municipality.

Data from the region indicates that while preventive visits increased by nearly 3 percentage points between 2023 and 2025, a significant gap remains. Currently, approximately 86.45% of medical visits are due to existing illnesses, while preventive visits account for only about 13.5% of total consultations.

Valerijus Makūnas, the Mayor of Kaunas District, noted that factors such as distance to facilities, lack of information, work schedules, and daily concerns impact healthcare access. The initiative aims to move beyond standard national prevention programs to foster a culture of regular health maintenance and early detection.