Latvia’s health sector seeks €826 million in extra funding

Latvia’s Health Ministry says the health sector needs more than €826 million in additional funding next year, LSM reported. Medical workers say urgent problems include low pay, a growing shortage of nurses and a funding shortfall for reimbursed medicines.

Of the requested amount, €406 million, or 49%, would go towards improving access to and the quality of services. Another €135 million is sought to improve the system for reimbursed medicines and medical supplies. Raising pay for healthcare workers and other employees would require €236 million, allowing healthcare workers’ wages to rise by 24% and other employees’ pay to increase by €120.

Līga Kozlovska, head of the Latvian Rural Family Doctors’ Association and a parliament member from the Union of Greens and Farmers, said doctors’ average pay, apart from a few highly paid specialities, is below the national average. Her association is seeking a pay rise of at least 25.4%, particularly for doctors, medical assistants and support staff.

Kozlovska said several commitments remain unfulfilled, including plans for border-area status and a hospital reform under which admission departments would operate around the clock with key specialists. Family doctors cannot provide that service, she said, adding that they work eight-hour days with large and growing numbers of patients. In regional areas, doctors must also perform an increasing range of procedures.

Kozlovska said next year’s budget did not look promising for patients. Alise Nicmane-Aišpure, president of the Latvian Family Doctors’ Association, also called on politicians to strengthen the mid-level healthcare workforce, including nurses, medical assistants and midwives.