Case Study

Improving access to medicine in Lithuania

GSK’s new Orange Card in Lithuania is giving all senior citizens better access to the medicines they need.

Patients in Lithuania must contribute towards the cost of prescription medicines. Many senior citizens don’t get the treatment they need because they cannot afford to pay this cost and do not have private medical insurance to cover the expense. Doctors are aware of this and may sometimes prescribe based on the patient’s ability to pay rather than the best option available. In general, the access to innovative treatment is very limited in Lithuania. The standard of living of seniors is relatively poor and healthcare financing is one of the lowest in the EU. All of these causes encouraged GSK Lithuania to implement the Orange Card scheme launched successfully in the US.

The Orange Card helps to tackle this problem by giving all senior citizens a discount of up to 100% of the patient’s contribution on all GSK prescription medicines. Patients can apply by completing a simple form and if eligible they will receive their Orange Card by post.

The card was launched in July 2004 through a national advertising campaign and promotional material sent to pensioner organisations, doctors and pharmacies. By February 2005 more than 3,500 patients had applied for an Orange Card and 107 pharmacies had registered to participate.

Our target is for 18,000 patients and 125 pharmacies to have joined the programme by July 2005.

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