White heroes with their hands tied
Klientas:
Situation
In opposition to the planned restructuring of health institutions, which has reached the adoption stage in the Seimas, family doctors have started to look for effective ways to change the current situation. Doctors feared that the planned reorganisation would create even longer queues for patients, who would no longer be able to freely choose their specialists, and that the system of family doctors, which had been built up over three decades, would be destroyed.
Challenge/Obstacles
Decisions against GPs have already been finalised in the Seimas, so there is limited scope for change.
There is a very short timeframe to develop a communication strategy and tactical actions.
Task
Draw the attention of decision-makers and initiate changes in legislation to protect GPs and their patients.
Decisions
- Coalition for Change – several organisations uniting GPs
- Announced and held a press conference to announce a solidarity action to attract the attention of the media and decision-makers
- Solidarity action of over 100 GPs in Kudirkos Square, Vilnius, where doctors lined up in a heart-shaped circle with their hands tied in a ribbon
Results
- Focused attention of all major Lithuanian media outlets
- More than 100 pieces of content in the media
- The campaign attracted the attention of decision makers who invited GPs to work together to find possible solutions
