Kauno klinikos Kaunas Careers, Salaries & Jobs

The Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos (LSMU ligoninė Kauno klinikos) began work in July 1940 as the university clinics of Vytautas Magnus University's Faculty of Medicine.

Its founders and shareholders today are the Ministry of Health and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU).

The hospital describes itself as the largest multi-profile medical institution in Lithuania. It says more than 8,000 people work there, including about 2,300 doctors, of whom almost 1,000 are residents, and 2,735 nursing specialists. Each year it records about 1.6 million patient visits, more than 96,000 inpatients and about 70,000 surgical operations.

Its campus on Eivenių street has grown since 1940 with dedicated buildings for cardiology, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, children's diseases, oncology and haematology, and, from 2015, what it calls the largest trauma and emergency centre in the Baltic states. In 2019 it opened the only Gamma Knife centre in the Baltics, by its own account.

For an internationally trained professional, Kauno klinikos is the biggest hospital employer in Lithuania and, in its own words, the alma mater of a large share of the country's doctors. Every clinical post, though, requires a Lithuanian practice licence issued by VASPVT, and the licence requires Lithuanian at the second state language category, equal to B1.

Founded

1940 (began work in July 1940)

Run by

Ministry of Health of Lithuania and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (founders and shareholders)

Leadership

• Prof. habil. dr. Renaldas Jurkevičius, Generalinis direktorius (general director)
• Prof. Kęstutis Stašaitis, Direktorius medicinai ir slaugai (director for medicine and nursing)

Switchboard

+370 37 326768 (office); appointments +370 37 703370

• Trauma and emergency care

  A Trauma and Emergency Centre opened in 2015, which the hospital describes as the largest in the Baltic states.

• Gamma Knife radiosurgery

  A Gamma Knife centre opened in 2019, the only one in the Baltic states according to the hospital.

• Cardiology and cardiac surgery

  Dedicated cardiology (1977) and cardiac surgery (2007) buildings; reducing cardiovascular disease is one of the hospital's strategic priorities.

• Oncology and haematology

  An Oncology and Haematology building reopened after reconstruction in 2014, and the hospital coordinates early cancer diagnosis programmes for the central and western region.

• Children's diseases

  A new building for the Children's Diseases Clinic opened in 2012.

• Neurosurgery and stroke care

  A neurosurgery building from 1982; reducing illness and death from cerebrovascular disease is a stated priority.

• Robotic surgery

  A robotic operating theatre in the Surgery Clinic; the hospital reports the first gynaecological operations in the Baltic states using a da Vinci robotic system.

• Kauno klinikos does not publish an international recruitment programme, relocation package or visa sponsorship offer, and it names no recruitment agency. Its careers page and adverts are in Lithuanian.
• The adverts are specific about licensing. Doctor posts ask for a qualification obtained under Lithuanian law and a valid medical practice licence for the specialty, and nurse posts ask for a valid general practice nurse licence. Some nursing adverts say no experience is required and training is given on the spot.
• Anyone wishing to join can send a CV to the hospital's human resources service by email or fill in a form, and the hospital says it will get in touch when a suitable opening arises.
• International applicants usually reach the hospital after recognition by the State Accreditation Service for Health Care Activities (VASPVT), which then issues the practice licence. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences runs medical training at the hospital, but studying there does not by itself give a licence to practise.

• Recognition of your qualification. For qualifications gained outside the EU, VASPVT decides no later than 3 months after receiving all documents. It can recognise, refuse or set a professional aptitude test. Once recognised, you may work on the same terms as Lithuanian citizens.

• A practice licence. After recognition you apply to VASPVT for a licence, such as a medical practice licence for your specialty or a general practice nurse licence. Kauno klinikos adverts list a valid licence as a requirement.

• Lithuanian. Government Resolution No. 1688 applies the second state language category, equal to CEFR B1, to health care workers who deal with people constantly. VASPVT's licensing guidance asks for a certificate confirming it. The exam is run by the National Education Agency.

• Residence permit. Non-EU citizens need a temporary residence permit for work or an EU Blue Card from the Migration Department. The fee for examining a temporary residence permit application is €160, or €320 urgently.

• Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are handled outside VASPVT's recognition service.

1. 1

   Apply to VASPVT for recognition

   Submit your qualification documents to VASPVT. Expect a decision within 3 months of a complete file, possibly with an aptitude test.
2. 2

   Pass the Lithuanian language exam

   Get the second state language category (B1) certificate from the National Education Agency. Registration through its system needs a Lithuanian personal code.
3. 3

   Obtain your practice licence

   Apply to VASPVT for the medical practice licence for your specialty, or the general practice nurse licence.
4. 4

   Read the current adverts

   Vacancies are listed on kaunoklinikos.lt/apie-mus/karjera, with requirements, working hours and usually the gross salary.
5. 5

   Send your CV

   Apply to the contact named in the advert, or send a CV to the human resources service or fill in the form on the 'Join us' page.
6. 6

   Arrange your residence permit

   If you are not an EU citizen, plan the temporary residence permit or EU Blue Card with the hospital once you have an offer.

• General practice nurse, Blood Centre

  From €2,088.98 a month

  From €2,387.40 with university education.

• General practice nurse, ENT Clinic

  From €2,179.80 a month

  From €2,491.20 with university education; about €200 in supplements.

• Operating theatre nurse, robotic theatre

  €2,698.80 a month

  Master's degree; plus supplements.

• Doctors, Kulautuva Rehabilitation Hospital

  €2,939.88 to €3,397.13

  Cardiologist, internist and rehabilitation physician adverts, gross a month.

• Other doctor posts: Set by employerMany doctor adverts do not state pay.