Minister of Health of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Jacqueline Drese Visits Lithuania

Jacqueline Drese, Minister of Health and Social Affairs for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has embarked on a two-day working trip to Lithuania along with a delegation of officials from her ministry. The visit, scheduled for February 28 and March 1, 2026, aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of health and discuss specific aspects of cross-border medical care. The main item on the agenda is talks with Lithuanian Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys in the country's capital, Vilnius. Cross-border cooperation in the area of public health in Europe has been developing for years, particularly in border regions where shared health challenges and patient migration require coordinated actions. The European Union has long supported such initiatives through various programs and funds, recognizing health as a key element of social and economic cohesion. The delegation from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern plans detailed discussions on possibilities for deepening cooperation between the healthcare systems of both regions. It is expected that topics will include the exchange of experience, access to healthcare services for residents of border regions, and potential joint projects. This visit is not an isolated action but a logical continuation of previously established contacts and talks between representatives of both sides. The German side is represented not only by Minister Drese but also by other high-ranking officials from her ministry. Their presence underscores the importance the state government attaches to relations with Lithuania in this specific field. Detailed expert exchange may concern the organization of the care system, financing, telemedicine, or combating shortages of medical staff – challenges common to many European healthcare systems. „Celem wizyty jest intensyfikacja naszej współpracy z Litwą w obszarze zdrowia. Chcemy przede wszystkim rozmawiać o transgranicznej opiece zdrowotnej.” (The goal of the visit is to intensify our cooperation with Lithuania in the area of health. We primarily want to talk about cross-border healthcare.) — Jacqueline Drese In the context of Germany's broader health policy, visits such as this one can be significant for the exchange of best practices and the search for solutions to common problems, such as an aging population or rising healthcare costs. For Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a Baltic Sea region, cooperation with Baltic countries like Lithuania also has a geopolitical and economic dimension that extends beyond healthcare itself. It can contribute to strengthening regional ties in the Baltic Sea basin.