The new contracts for cooperation with the National Health Service (NVD) have been signed by 91% of general practitioners. The Ministry of Health will await the signing of contracts from family doctors until December 29.
The disagreement between health sector management and GPs began after the announcement of the Latvian Association of General Practitioners that family doctors could work four state-paid working days from January 1, setting the fifth day as fee services. According to the Association's calculations, from January 1, the sector's funding will decrease by 13%. There are therefore concerns about the provision of general practitioners' practices and services to patients.
Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity) acknowledged communication issues about problems raised by family doctors. The minister also pledged that in January, the government will decide on increasing the family doctor's practice maintenance money from the start of the year.
The Association of General Practitioners had encouraged an extension of the existing contracts for two months, during which it was possible to find a comprehensible solution for the whole year. However, the Minister has strongly objected to this, insisting that the contract should be signed for the entire year. The call for all family doctors to sign contracts will be subject to further consultation by the end of this working week.
"The Health Minister gave his word that this agreement will be followed, and we will inform colleagues, who will decide how to proceed. For the first burning needs, there will be enough funds, but we are working to improve primary healthcare, we will still work on it, and it will require even more funding,” said Alice Nicmane-Aišpure, head of the Latvian Association of General Practitioners.
It is currently known that 110 general practitioners out of a total of about 1,200 had not signed a contract to work the following year by the morning of Wednesday, December 27. That number is expected to shrink by Friday.
The Latvian Association of Rural General Practitioners agrees that additional funding is needed because the amount of duties is increasing. This time, however, they did not support the peer association's decision to contract for two months or a possible lower number of working days.
Therefore, unlike urban doctors, in the countryside, 99% of general practitioners have signed the new contracts with the NVD.
"We signed [contracts]. Trust the government, at least I hope so. And that the reserved budget money for primary healthcare will be there. And it will definitely be there, but the main question from which month,” said Līga Kozlovska, head of the Association of Rural GPs.
Meanwhile, the General Practitioners Association points out that the outlook isn't as rosy because the experience "is what it is". The association will inform members of the meeting with the minister and will decide jointly on further action.
