DistantNews
Support us
Medical Organizations Demand at Least 6% of GDP for Healthcare and Funds to Raise Lowest Salaries
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ป Latvia /Health & Science

Medical Organizations Demand at Least 6% of GDP for Healthcare and Funds to Raise Lowest Salaries

From Delfi Latvia · () Latvian

Translated from Latvian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Three Latvian health organizations are demanding increased healthcare funding, at least 6% of GDP, for the 2027 state budget.
  • They also call for funds to raise the lowest salaries in the sector by at least 30%.
  • The organizations urge a review of service tariffs, increased funding for primary care and prevention, and reduced patient waiting times and co-payments.

Leading Latvian health organizations are urging the government to significantly increase healthcare funding, advocating for at least 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 2027 state budget. The call, issued by the Latvian Medical Association (LMA), the Latvian Health and Social Care Workers' Trade Union (LVSADA), and the Latvian Hospital Association (LHA), also includes a demand for resources to raise the lowest salaries in the sector by a minimum of 30%.

In a joint letter to state officials, the organizations propose a gradual increase in healthcare financing to reach at least 6% of GDP, which translates to approximately 13-14% of the consolidated state budget. For the 2027 budget specifically, they seek a 30% increase in the minimum monthly wage rates set for various medical professional categories. This adjustment aims to raise the statutory minimums, not necessarily increase the actual salaries of all healthcare workers by that percentage.

Without additional funding, it will be increasingly difficult to provide timely treatment to patients and retain medical professionals in the state healthcare system.

โ€” Mฤris Pฤผaviล†ลกThe acting president of the Latvian Medical Association highlighted the critical need for increased funding to ensure timely patient care and staff retention.

Furthermore, the health sector representatives are calling for a revision of tariffs for services funded by the National Health Service. They also emphasize the need for greater investment in primary healthcare and preventive measures, alongside efforts to reduce patient waiting lists and co-payments. The organizations also advise against implementing new hospital network reorganization decisions until an independent socioeconomic impact assessment is publicly available. They argue that the current healthcare system is unsustainable without additional funding, citing critical issues such as a shortage of medical personnel, insufficient state-funded service tariffs, and lengthy patient queues.

Changes in healthcare are necessary, but they must not reduce the accessibility of care in places where patients have no other alternatives.

โ€” Artลซrs Bฤ“rziล†ลกThe chairman of the Latvian Hospital Association stressed the importance of ensuring that reforms do not negatively impact patient access to services, especially in regions with limited options.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi Latvia in Latvian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog