Latvia to fund cough-assistance devices after ombudswoman’s intervention

Latvia will begin funding cough-assistance devices for home use from October 1, 2026, for patients with spinal muscular atrophy and other severe neuromuscular diseases, LSM reports, citing the Latvian Ombudsman’s Office.

Several state institutions had acknowledged the need for the medical devices, but none had taken responsibility for providing them, citing regulatory restrictions and the division of responsibilities. As a result, patients whose health and lives depend directly on access to the devices were left without a practical solution.

“The state’s duty is to provide real assistance when a person’s health and life are at risk, not merely to plan solutions for the future. I therefore urged the responsible institutions to act immediately. The decision to provide access to a state-funded cough-assistance device from October 1 is an important step in protecting patients’ rights,” Ombudswoman Karina Palkova said.

Until now, patients in Latvia who needed a cough-assistance device to maintain vital bodily functions had not received state-funded support.

Palkova had called on the Ministry of Health and the National Health Service to find an immediate solution for patients who need the devices to maintain vital functions. She said the state should not limit itself to identifying the problem or planning funding for the future when patients’ health and lives are already at risk.

The Ministry of Health has informed the ombudswoman that it will introduce a new state-funded service from October 1: the rental of cough-assistance devices. The service will be available at home to patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation.