Latvia approves 10 million euros for hospitals’ extra services

Latvia’s government has approved an additional 10 million euros to pay hospitals for healthcare services provided in the first half of 2026 beyond the amount initially planned, LSM reported.

The funding will come from the state budget’s contingency funds. The government said actual demand for treatment, as well as planned funding, determines the volume of healthcare services provided. The additional money will cover hospitals’ costs for services already delivered and help maintain continuity of care.

Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri of New Unity said the decision showed that existing funding was insufficient to meet residents’ healthcare needs in full. He said Latvia needed both to increase overall healthcare funding and to consider how it was used.

Of the total, 6.56 million euros will pay for inpatient care exceeding contract limits, 2.39 million euros will cover additional procedures, 601,500 euros will go towards diagnosis-related group payments, and 443,400 euros will cover medical devices and implantable materials.

The largest costs arose in intensive care, psychiatric care, hip and knee replacement, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, and surgery for spinal conditions and injuries, among other areas. The government said demand for state-funded healthcare services was increasing.

Following the decision, the Health Ministry will ask the Finance Ministry to allocate the funding, and the National Health Service will distribute it to healthcare providers.