Kaunas Hospital Modernisation Strengthens Lithuania's Fight Against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, affecting nearly 11 million people globally. Lithuania is among the countries most affected in Europe, with 23 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with seven in France. This high rate is partly linked to the collapse of health structures following the fall of the Soviet Union, which allowed the disease to spread rapidly in the 1990s. To address this challenge, the European Union has supported the renovation of the Romainiai hospital in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city. The hospital is part of Kauno klinikos, the largest hospital centre in the Baltic States, and has been treating tuberculosis patients since 1937. At the peak of the epidemic, the facility had 500 beds; today, around 150 remain, most of them occupied by tuberculosis patients. Between 2016 and 2020, the hospital underwent a major renovation to modernise its infrastructure and equipment. The upgrade introduced modern patient rooms, fibrescopes for bronchoscopies essential to tuberculosis diagnosis, and a fully digitised X-ray system that allows images to be stored and accessed by doctors across the country. The hospital also introduced a rapid genetic test capable of diagnosing tuberculosis and detecting drug resistance within four hours, significantly accelerating treatment decisions. These improvements are particularly important for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis, where treatment can last up to two years instead of the standard six months. Faster diagnosis allows treatment to begin earlier, improving patient outcomes and reducing the risk of further transmission. Developed with EU support under Cohesion Policy, the €13 million renovation project was funded at 85% by the European Union. The modernisation of the Romainiai hospital contributes to Lithuania’s long-term efforts to reduce tuberculosis rates, which have fallen by 90% over the past 60 years, while strengthening access to high-quality healthcare for vulnerable populations.