Find a pharmacy in Kaunas
Kaunas, Lithuania's second city and historic interwar capital, has 114 verified pharmacies in the PillsCard directory serving roughly 290,000 residents plus a sizeable student population drawn by Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas University of Technology, and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). Density is highest around the Old Town and Laisvės alėja in the Centras district, with strong clusters along Savanorių prospektas in Žaliakalnis and around the Akropolis and Mega shopping centres in Dainava and Petrašiūnai. The LSMU Kauno Klinikos campus in Eiveniai anchors a secondary cluster of hospital-adjacent pharmacies serving outpatient and oncology demand. Cross-border traffic from Suwałki and Białystok in Poland is modest but visible, particularly for prescription dermatology and reproductive health products priced below Polish retail.
The Kaunas market is chain-dominated rather than fragmented: Benu Vaistinė operates the largest footprint, with multiple branches across Centras, Šančiai, Aleksotas, and the Kalniečiai residential belt, frequently anchored inside Maxima and Iki supermarkets. Eurovaistinė and Gintarinė vaistinė hold the next-largest shares, while Camelia maintains a visible presence in shopping-mall locations and near Kauno Klinikos. Independent and hospital-licensed dispensaries fill specialist niches — compounding, oncology preparations, and veterinary lines — particularly around the Eiveniai hospital quarter. Extended-hours branches concentrate on Vytauto prospektas and Karaliaus Mindaugo prospektas near the bus and rail terminals, where Benu and Eurovaistinė both run late-evening rotations catering to commuters and inter-city travellers.
Pricing & coverage
Out-of-pocket prices in Kaunas track national tariffs closely. A typical antibiotic course (amoxicillin 500 mg, 20 capsules) runs €4–7; a standard statin (atorvastatin 20 mg, 30 tablets) €3–8 generic or €12–18 branded; over-the-counter ibuprofen 400 mg packs sit at €3–5; and a blood-pressure check or INR point-of-care test, where offered, costs €3–6. Reimbursement is administered by VLK through the compensated medicines list — patients pay 0%, 20%, or 50% of the reference price depending on diagnosis code on the e-prescription. Verify current reimbursement status and authorised retail margins via the regulator VVKT.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Kaunas operates a published duty-pharmacy rota (budinčios vaistinės): at least one pharmacy in the central districts remains open 24 hours, most reliably the Benu and Eurovaistinė branches on Karaliaus Mindaugo prospektas and near the railway station. For genuine medical emergencies — anaphylaxis, overdose, suspected poisoning, severe bleeding — call 112; the LSMU Kauno Klinikos emergency department on Eivenių gatvė 2 is the primary receiving hospital, with Kauno Klinikinė Ligoninė on Josvainių gatvė handling secondary intake. The duty rota is posted at each pharmacy door and on municipal channels.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Lithuanian e-prescription at any Kaunas pharmacy?
Yes. Lithuania's e-receptas system is national, so any prescription issued by a registered doctor — including teleconsultations through esveikata.lt — can be dispensed at any licensed pharmacy in Kaunas using your personal code (asmens kodas) and ID. Reimbursement is applied automatically against the VLK compensated medicines list.
Do Kaunas pharmacies accept EU prescriptions from other member states?
Cross-border paper prescriptions issued in the EU EHR format are accepted, but pharmacists may decline if the active substance, dosage, or packaging is not authorised in Lithuania. Controlled substances and narcotics on Schedule II–III require a Lithuanian prescription regardless of origin. Bring photo ID and the original prescription, not a photocopy.
Are pharmacies in Kaunas open on Sundays and public holidays?
Most chain branches in shopping centres (Akropolis, Mega, Molas) open daily including Sundays, typically 09:00–21:00. Smaller neighbourhood pharmacies close on Sundays. On national holidays only the designated duty pharmacies remain open — the rota is published by the municipality and displayed on every pharmacy door.
Can pharmacists in Kaunas prescribe or only dispense?
Lithuanian pharmacists cannot prescribe prescription-only medicines but may sell a defined OTC list, administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines under protocol, and provide brief consultations. For antibiotics, hormonal contraception beyond emergency contraception, and most chronic-disease drugs, a doctor's e-prescription is required.
Do Kaunas pharmacies stock medical-tourism items like dental prophylaxis or post-op kits?
Yes, particularly branches near LSMU Kauno Klinikos and around Centras. Chlorhexidine rinses, suture-care kits, and post-extraction analgesia are routinely stocked given the city's dental-tourism inflow from Germany, the UK, and Scandinavia.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult a licensed pharmacy or registered physician for individual clinical decisions.