Family medicine in Vilnius University

The Centre of Family Medicine (hereinafter referred to as the Centre) was founded at Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos in 1997 instead of the Centre of General Practitioner (headed by professor Julius Kalibatas) that had been operating at Vilnius City University Hospital (Antakalnio str. 57). Doc. Eduardas Razgauskas, who run the Centre until 2003, was the first Director of the Centre of Family Medicine of Santariškės. From 2003, the Centre has been successfully managed by doc. Vytautas Kasiulevičius. Upon the establishment of the Centre of Family Medicine, there worked only four employees, slightly more than 1000 patients received treatment during the first year. Currently, the number of patients visiting at the Centre of Family Medicine has grown by more than 8 times, and the staff comprises of more than 20 people. The activities of the Centre of Family Medicine are closely tied to the activities and objectives of Vilnius University.
In 1991, Reconstituent Seimas of Lithuania approved the National Health Concept, therefore there evolved the problem of general practice training. At that time, the system for doctors’ training was being restructured in the country – post-diploma studies – residency – introduced. The Centre of General Practitioner, that was committed to organize residency of general practitioners, was founded at Vilnius University. The first graduates entered the 3-year family medicine residency studies already in 1992. At the same time, Vilnius University started re-qualifying district therapeutists and paediatricians into general practitioners. Over the last 14 years, more than 900 doctors acquired the specialty of a family doctor at the Centre of Family Medicine of Vilnius University.

FAMILY MEDICINE EDUCATION IN VILNIUS UNIVERSITY

Family medicine education encompasses three phases:
undergraduate education,
postgraduate medical education (intership and residency),
continuing medical education.

Undergraduate medicine - 6th year of education
“Fundamentals of Family medicine” (48 hours in Vilnius University and 70 hours in Kaunas University of Medicine).

FM residency started in 1992

Studies duration:
1 year of internship
3 years of FM residency

Every year more than 50 new FM residents in both Universities