Lithuania's Ministry of Health says the agreement creates a legal basis for the three Baltic states to purchase drugs and medical equipment on a centralized basis and, if needed, lend medical facilities to partners.
Lithuanian Minister of Health Raimundas Šukys said the Baltic cooperation opened greater opportunities to negotiate better prices with drug manufacturers and suppliers.
"After the Baltic states united their forces, a stronger player has entered the medicine market, capable of holding price negotiations with drug manufacturers and suppliers in a more effective way. The agreement also provides opportunities for a more effective rendering of healthcare services in the Baltic states, allows purchasing drugs in a quicker and more transparent way and allows cutting administrative costs on public procurement," Šukys said.
The agreement was signed by Šukys and his Latvian and Estonian counterparts Ingrida Circene and Hanno Pevkur. The ministers noted the agreement was open, and other EU and EEA member states can join in.
