In Lithuania, the law is clear: both parents share equal responsibility for their child’s health. However, the reality inside clinics and hospitals tells a different story. A systemic reliance on mothers as the primary coordinators of care has left many fathers on the sidelines, a trend that health experts and policymakers are now seeking to dismantle through a new public initiative.
On May 14, 2026, the Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) Science and Innovation Center in Vilnius will host a public discussion titled “Child Health – Responsibility of Both Parents: How Can the Health System Better Involve Fathers?” The event aims to address why, despite legal equality, the healthcare system continues to default to mothers for communication, decision-making, and long-term care management.
The Invisible Barrier in Clinical Communication
While societal shifts have seen more fathers taking an active role in daily parenting, the institutional response has been slower to adapt. Medical professionals note that the healthcare system’s current practice—from the way appointment reminders are sent to the language used during consultations—often reinforces the stereotype that the mother is the primary caregiver.
This “mother-first” default is not merely a matter of habit; it is embedded in the communication models used by many medical facilities. When a child falls ill, doctors and specialists frequently coordinate care exclusively with the mother, even when the father is present or available. This exclusion can lead to a lack of information for fathers, making them feel less empowered to participate in critical health decisions.
Experts participating in the upcoming discussion argue that these systemic biases are particularly pronounced in cases involving children with disabilities or chronic illnesses. In these high-pressure environments, the coordination of care becomes a complex, full-time job. When the system fails to actively engage both parents, the burden of care falls disproportionately on one side, often leading to burnout and strained family dynamics.
Moving Beyond Gender Stereotypes
The discussion in Vilnius will bring together pediatricians, health policy experts, and representatives from public initiatives to dissect the influence of involuntary gender bias. The goal is to move beyond the “helper” narrative for fathers and transition toward a model of true co-parenting within the medical sphere.
Andrejus Rudanovas, a partner at the European Life Science & Knowledge Institute and an expert in life sciences law, will moderate the session. The panel will explore practical solutions, such as updating hospital databases to include both parents as primary contacts and training medical staff to recognize and mitigate gender-based assumptions during family consultations.
This shift is not just about social equity; it is about better health outcomes for children. Research consistently shows that when both parents are actively involved and informed, treatment adherence improves, and the overall stress levels within the family unit decrease.
A Systemic Push for Reform
The event is part of a broader European Union-funded project, “Stronger Together: Fathers’ Contribution to Child Health and Disability Care.” This initiative reflects a growing recognition across the EU that healthcare systems must modernize to reflect contemporary family structures.
By examining the legal rights and duties of both parents in the healthcare process, the project seeks to create a roadmap for institutional change. The upcoming discussion will serve as a platform for sharing practical solutions that can be implemented at the local level to ensure that the healthcare system supports, rather than hinders, paternal involvement.
Registration for the event is open to the public, with options for both in-person attendance at MRU and remote participation via a live stream. As Lithuania looks toward 2026, the focus remains on ensuring that the responsibility for a child’s health is a shared journey, supported by a system that recognizes both parents as equal partners.
Source: BNS
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