Health
Healthcare and pharmaceutical industry organizations are urging Latvia to start work on the establishment of a National Medicines Reserve Fund immediately because there is a high risk that chronic patients will be left without the necessary medicines in various risk scenarios and crises, Latvian Radio reported March 4.
Professional organizations of Latvian medical practitioners call for increased responsibility for attacks on medical workers. An open letter signed by the industry's nine organizations and the Emergency Medical Service was sent to the interior, justice, and health ministers, Latvian Radio reported February 29.
The number of people needing technical aids for health reasons is growing year by year, but the state-paid service is sluggish. A viewer of Latvian Television' 4. studija turned to the broadcast with her issue – her mother suffered a stroke and had to wait three months for the equipment, 4. studija reported February 25.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Latvian hospitals and medical centers have so far helped around 240 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, of whom around 40 are currently receiving treatment, the charity project "M-Help", which helps bring injured Ukrainian soldiers to Latvia, told Latvian Radio February 24.
In Cyprus, which is a popular travel destination for Latvian residents, the cat coronavirus is now spreading rapidly. Although this virus has not been detected in Latvia at this time, it is worth keeping an eye out for when traveling, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) told Latvian Television's 4. studija on February 22.
The issue of language, namely not speaking Russian, often becomes the cause of harassment targeted toward young doctors – not only with patients but senior colleagues. The Latvian Junior Doctors Association spoke about this at a meeting with the Health Minister on Monday, who pointed out it is high time to change this, Latvian Television reported February 19.
Knowledge of reproductive and sexual health in Latvia remains relatively low and is not improving. Experts agree that the education of adults and children on these issues is at a critical level in Latvia, but there is still no clarity as to when and how it will be implemented, Latvian Radio reported on February 14.
Latvia still does not have a system in place to provide the necessary stocks of medicinal products in emergencies when international supplies to Latvia may be disrupted. This issue is particularly important because 94% of the Latvian medicines market is made up of imported medicines, Latvian Radio reported on February 13.
The colorectal or bowel cancer screening test is simple and effective, but only a few use this opportunity, Andrejs Pčolkins, chief doctor of the Latvian Oncology Center, and Uldis Veseris, head of the society of patients of bowel cancer, said on Latvian Radio program “How to Live better” on February 13.
Several young doctors have publicly stated that they often had to hear offensive comments about their age, skills, and competence from patients. However, according to a poll conducted by Norstat in collaboration with LSM, only 3% of the population said they did not trust younger doctors.
The builder of the new Stradiņš Hospital building complex LLC "Velve" considers the hospital's decision to unilaterally terminate the contract to be illegal and continues work, the company said in a statement on February 8.
Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSKUS) will terminate its contract with LLC “Velve” to build the new A2 hospital building complex on February 13 due to the company's breach of contract obligations and delays in execution of construction works, the hospital council announced on Tuesday, February 6.