2026-09-24
The 2026 autumn report on the implementation of recommendations, published by the National Audit Office, notes that there are currently delays in implementing 34 high importance audit recommendations. Among them – delays in the areas of fire safety, medicine reimbursement and the prevention of cybercrime.
On average, the implementation of recommendations is delayed by as much as 19 months, i.e. more than one and a half year. According to the institutions, the most common reasons for the delays are prolonged preparation and coordination of legislation, a lack of human resources and expertise, and protracted processes of developing or modernising IT systems.
“The data in the report reveal particularly critical areas: in fire safety, only 25 percent of the on-duty shifts of firefighters at the State Fire and Rescue Service meet the established requirements; 72 percent of decisions on medicine reimbursement are delayed by more than half a year; and decisions on combating cybercrime are stalled for up to 20 months. Delays by institutions lasting months or even years are not merely bureaucratic statistics; they are unresolved problems affecting ordinary people. It is therefore important not only to plan actions, but also to achieve results in a timely manner,” says Auditor General Irena Segalovičienė.
Only a quarter of firefighter shifts on duty meet the established requirements
Long-term challenges continue to be faced in the field of fire safety, which are significant for the safety of the population and their property. According to data from the Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD), there were nearly 8,000 fires in the country in 2025, in which 70 people died and 155 were injured.
Despite the recommendations made by the National Audit Office, the proportion of on-duty shifts within the State Fire and Rescue Service that met the established requirements increased only slightly between 2020 and 2025 – from 19 percent to 25 percent. The proportion of firefighters capable of carrying out all rescue operations also increased from 52 to 57 percent, while the proportion of fire-fighting equipment meeting the requirements fell to 60 percent in 2025 (compared to 62 percent in 2020).
The report also states that, despite the fire prevention measures implemented, the number of fires at the sites inspected has not decreased: there were 188 fires in 2020 and 189 in 2025. The implementation of the relevant audit recommendations is delayed by between 2 and 23 months; therefore, it is still necessary to improve the legal framework, clearly define the responsibilities of institutions for fire prevention, and ensure that fire services are adequately equipped and staffed.
72 percent of decisions on medicine reimbursement were taken late
No systemic changes took place in the healthcare sector during the reporting period that were aimed at ensuring faster access to reimbursable medicines for the public. Although improvements to the application assessment procedure have shortened the assessment stage for applications for medicine reimbursement, final decisions on the inclusion of medicines in the List of Reimbursable Medicines are still being taken late.
According to the National Audit Office, 72 percent of decisions were taken later than the stipulated 180-day deadline – taking between 184 and 616 days. The process is prolonged by complex procedures, assessments by several institutions, protracted negotiations and a shortage of qualified specialists.
There is still a lack of systematic coordination in the prevention of cybercrime
In order to strengthen public safety in cyberspace, it is still necessary to improve the prevention, deterrence and investigation of cybercrime. The implementation of audit recommendations in this area is delayed by between 8 and 20 months.
The Ministry of the Interior has as yet failed to establish and implement an inter-agency cooperation mechanism that would ensure the systematic planning, coordination and impact assessment of cybercrime prevention. Furthermore, the Lithuanian Prison Service has yet to complete the implementation of measures designed to prevent cybercrime from places of detention – such as blocking communications, modernising video equipment, restructuring premises and other measures.
Targeted prevention measures would help residents better recognise cyber threats, while preventative measures in places of detention would help to reduce the number of cybercrimes and the workload on specialist law enforcement units arising from unresolved issues in places of detention.
The National Audit Office monitors the implementation of recommendations on an ongoing basis and actively cooperates with the audited entities following the audit. Up-to-date information on the status of the implementation of recommendations is published on the National Audit Office’s website: Open Data | National Audit Office of the Republic of Lithuania. A report on the status of the implementation of recommendations is published and submitted to the Seimas twice a year – in March and September. What changes are taking place in Lithuania and where risks arise, based on data collected by the National Audit Office, can also be monitored using the tool Public Sector Progress and Risk Dashboard.