A new procedure that came into effect on July 1, requiring healthcare institutions to immediately register patients with the referred specialist, has faced sharp criticism from family physicians. Alma Astafjeva, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Family Physicians' Trade Union, states that implementing this requirement in practice will be extremely difficult. Doctors fear that coordinating a suitable time for both the patient and the specialist will become an almost impossible task, which will further lengthen queues at registration desks.