Private practice patients blocked from state-funded care in Latvia

Patients of private medical practices cannot access state-funded healthcare through their doctors, including cancer care, despite having paid taxes in Latvia, LSM reported.

Family doctor Anda Kariņa has run her private practice for 26 years and treats both foreign nationals and Latvian residents. However, patients entitled to state-funded healthcare have been unable to receive it this year using her referrals because she has no contract with the National Health Service, known as the NVD.

Kariņa said the situation was unfair and frustrating, especially for patients facing stress and uncertainty. She said she also could not refer patients with cancer or suspected cancer to the so-called green corridor, which provides state-funded priority diagnostics and the start of treatment regardless of waiting lists and quotas.

Several private practice specialists face the same obstacle. Ieva Šmite, a project manager in the NVD’s Outpatient Services Division, said regulations allow only doctors with contracts with the service to refer patients for state-funded care.

She said the requirement was intended to ensure clear and transparent management of state funding, predictable spending and quality control, as contracted medical institutions must meet specific quality standards.

Oncology examinations are not subject to quotas. The state pays for them after they are provided, and the services are available to all patients who need them. However, Šmite said patients are still treated differently when the referral comes from a doctor without an NVD contract.