Since the beginning of this month, tariffs, or public payments for laboratory manipulations, have been reduced in a total of 29 items. There are small reductions and tariffs that have been cut by as much as a third.
For example, for blood cholesterol tests, the cost to state laboratories used to be €1.70, but is now €1.38. The tariff for a full blood count has been reduced by less than a euro.
One of the leading laboratories in Latvia, "Centrālā laboratorija" (Central Laboratory), has issued a statement saying that it is "raising the prices of services due to state action". This means that services will become more expensive for people who pay themselves or have insurance policies.
Edvīns Kazušs, a member of the board of Central Laboratory, said that the increase in the patient's co-payment will be significant: "If he used to pay €2.95 for a blood test, now he will pay €4.85."
The "MFD laboratory" could also raise prices, confirmed Sandis Levčenkovs, the head of the institution:
"We will be quite solidary with the representatives of our field, and these prices will definitely be raised. We have to take into account that patients' co-payments will definitely increase. And the range could be quite different. It depends on the type of manipulation and the complexity."
The National Health Service (NVD) explained that the decision to cut funding was taken after looking at how the laboratories spend the money allocated by the state. It was found that for some laboratory tests, laboratories had set even lower prices in their price lists for paid services than the state paid through tariffs, and it is unacceptable that the State overpays.
"These changes are justified because they are related to the efficient use of the State budget. The price indicated in the price lists of laboratory fees for certain manipulations is lower than the tariff paid by the state for carrying out such examinations at the state budget's expense," said Evija Štālberga, a spokesperson for the NVD.
The reduction in tariffs will reduce state funding for laboratories by €5 million a year. Last year, laboratories received more than €60 million from the state.
