Belarus, Lithuania, Markets and Companies, Medicine, Nuclear power plant

Used to protect the thyroid in case of a nuclear disaster, the medicine will be distributed for Vilnius residents free of charge via the Eurovaistine, Camelia, Gintarine Vaistine, Norfos Vaistine and Benu pharmacy chains.

"We are distributing the medicine through pharmacies that have willingly joined in. Although the risk of an accident is very low and we hope people won’t need to use the pills, we need to get city residents prepared," Povilas Poderski, director of administration at Vilnius Municipality, said.

E-recipes for potassium iodide will be valid for 30 days.

All in all, the Health Ministry has distributed 4 mln potassium iodide pills in 16 municipalities within the 100 km distance from the Astravyets nuclear power plant in Belarus.

Lithuania criticizes the nuclear project in Astravyets for safety reasons and is ready to boycott electricity produced by this power plant. Belarus rejects criticism. The nuclear facility's first reactor is scheduled to be launch in the first quarter of 2021.