Latgale loses its last 24-hour pharmacy

Latgale no longer has a 24-hour pharmacy after the last such pharmacy in Daugavpils reduced its opening hours, LSM reports. Medicines can now be purchased there only until 11 p.m.

The nearest 24-hour pharmacies are in Riga, on Vienības, Brīvības and Čaka streets. The journey from Daugavpils takes about three hours.

The closure has surprised local residents. Viktorija told LSM that she had recently needed ear drops for her young child at night, but the medicine was unavailable. She said the lack of a pharmacy open at any time would be particularly difficult for older people.

Natālija Šeršņova, head of the Daugavpils pharmacy, said the decision was driven by a shortage of qualified staff and low demand at night. Pharmacies may employ only pharmacists or pharmacy assistants, and at least four specialists are needed to maintain a 24-hour schedule. One employee retired, another began caring for a grandchild, and only two staff members were willing to work nights.

The pharmacy had only about 10 customers per night, Šeršņova said.

Other cities in Latgale stopped selling medicines at night several years ago. The shortage of 24-hour pharmacies is also affecting other parts of Latvia. Only six pharmacies nationwide currently operate around the clock: three in Riga and one each in Jelgava, Tukums and Ventspils.

The industry association said the number of 24-hour pharmacies had fallen from 15 to six in recent years following a reform of medicine markups. A 24-hour pharmacy in Carnikava has been closed for a year, while Ādaži also no longer has one.

The Health Ministry has not promised solutions to the issue.