Polikliinika

Polikliinika is a term used primarily in Lithuanian and some other Baltic languages to refer to a specific type of outpatient health service offered within a hospital or medical institution. The word is derived from the Greek roots polis meaning "city" and clinic, and it denotes a cluster of related medical specialties that operate in a coordinated manner to provide comprehensive care to patients without requiring overnight admission.

In practice a policli­nika typically consists of several medical departments – such as internal medicine, radiology, laboratory diagnostics, and specialist outpatient services – that share a common administrative structure and infrastructure. Patients are referred to the policli­nika for diagnosis, therapy, and follow‑up, and the services are usually covered by the national health insurance system. Because all procedures take place in a single location, coordination of patient care is streamlined, reducing wait times and improving quality of care.

The concept of the policli­nika became widespread in Lithuanian healthcare after the 1970s as part of a broader effort to modernize medical services and concentrate specialization in urban centers. Today, policli­nikas are found in most larger hospitals, often serving as a hub for urgent and elective outpatient treatment. They play a critical role in preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and public health monitoring, ensuring that citizens have easy access to a wide range of clinical services in a single facility.