No further European funds will be invested in Latvia's e-health system, therefore the third round of planned upgrades to the system will not be implemented, Health Minister Ilze Viņķele (For Development/For) told reporters February 21, according to the LETA newswire.
A year after implementing a QR code medication verification system, which allows medication to be traced from production to the consumer, no instances of medication fraud have been uncovered in Latvia, according to Latvian Medicines Verification Organisation Board Chair Inese Erdmane on February 18.
A new method has been implemented in face and jaw surgery using an innovative bioceramic material that ensures bone density and a restoration of volume for osteoporosis and bone atrophy patients, according to Latvian Television's morning news broadcast “Rīta Panorāma” on February 11.
The rate at which men in Latvia commit suicide is still alarming, but a lot better than it used to be, according to data highlighted by the Central statistics Bureau (CSB) February 11. A graphic published by the CSB on its Twitter feed shows that the rate of suicide among men is 29 per 100 000 of the population, compared to 4 among women.
Government and officials told the media February 4 that measures were in place to deal with any cases detected in Latvia of the new strain of coronavirus from china, while stressing that no such cases had yet been detected.
On World Cancer Day, February 4, Eurostat has published information showing that Latvia's rate of deaths from cancer is the fifth-highest in the European Union, based on data from 2016.
The name of a prestigious Latvian scientific and medical university is on certificates being handed out as proof of competence in something called "Neutraceuticals", reported the Re:Baltica center for investigative journalism.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has again updated its travel advice to China in light of the health emergency prompted by the spread of a deadly new strain of coronavirus.
Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 24 updated its advice to travellers planning to visit China as concerns grow about the outbreak of a new a dangerous strain of coronavirus.
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) Infectious Disease Risk Analysis Department Director Jurijs Perevoščikovs told Latvian Radio on January 22 that there is a low risk posed to Latvian residents from the respiratory coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan (population 11 million).
The work of students at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) on a device that could help prevent strokes has been recognized in an international competition.
University of Latvia (LU) scientists have discovered a substance found in berries that could help improve the health of patients after a fracture or joint pain, according to LTV's “Panorāma” broadcast on January 4.
Several important human “parts” tend to undergo wear and tear throughout our lives, but now scientists and medical professionals in Latvia are using technology to work towards creating increasingly better “spare parts”, according to Latvian Television's “Izziņas impulss” (“Cognitive Impulse”) broadcast on January 1.
The permitted blood alcohol limit should be reduced to 0.2 permilles (promiles) for all drivers and a raft of restrictions introduced on alcohol advertising and promotion according to a Health Ministry plan for 2020-2022 submitted to government December 19.
The annual #DodPieci charty marathon run by youth-oriented radio station pieci.lv launches in earnest December 17.
70 people may have contracted an acute gastrointestinal infection in Liepāja after eating their lunch in a Baltic Restaurants canteen at Lauma Lingerie company, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control representative Ilze Araja informed the LETA newswire November 28.
Medics staged another demonstration outside Saeima November 28, protesting against the provisions for the healthcare sector provided in the budget, which was promulgated into law by President Egils Levits November 27.
61 children in a Smiltene Secondary School building have fallen ill with an intestinal infection due to a virus, according to Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) Epidemiologist Rita Korotinska.
Next year, the lowest monthly salaries for medical workers might rise by 20 percent for medical residents and by 10 percent for other staff, according to the Health Ministry's proposal the government is due to consider on November 12, reported the LETA newswire.
On Thursday, November 7 hundreds of healthcare workers protested in front of Saeima. They're calling the protest “One day without medical practitioners”. This was one of two protests on that morning, as a separate regional reform picket was also taking place.
In the hope of getting more funding for the medical profession, healthcare workers will hold a meeting and a picket at the Saeima on November 7, journalists were told by representatives of medics' unions October 29.
In taking on the “Diagnosis - cancer” multimedia project, LTV and LSM.lv were surprised by the amount of people who mentioned communication with doctors as one of the main problems in their diagnosis and treatment process. The issues are most acute when it comes to diagnosis, as well as during discussions about further treatment for patients. No one likes presenting or hearing bad news, but communication issues plague the Latvian medical system from diagnosis, to notifying the next of kin in cases of death.
Doctor competence varies greatly in Latvia when it comes to detecting cancer in its early stages. Most general practitioners detect one to five instances of early stage cancer per year. There are some doctors with a three times better result, however others have not diagnosed any cases.
Each year 11,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Latvia, contributing to the total of 77,000 people suffering from oncological diseases. Patient organisations have calculated that cancer directly or indirectly affects one-fifth of the population, taking into account patients' families, friends and those involved with patient care.
In Latvia 16 people lose their lives to cancer every single day. Proportionally, this is a higher percentage than in Estonia and Lithuania, and it’s too much. Everyone knows that cancer kills, and sometimes very quickly, so this diagnosis causes alarm for patients, relatives and society as a whole.
Youth radio station pieci.lv ha s revealed the beneficiary of this year's "Dod pieci" (Gimme five) charity marathon with money raised this time around going to provide palliative care for terminally ill patients.
By October 7, the number of people infected with tick-borne encephalitis in Latvia this year has increased by 6.8 percent as compared to 2018, according to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Around 20% of medical students are not planning to apply for residency in Latvia, representatives of the Latvian Junior Doctors Association informed LETA, citing a survey of would-be physicians.
On October 2 the healthcare working group of the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (AmCham) said it had delivered what it called a "vision statement" on Latvian healthcare to Ilze Vinkele, Minister of Health.
National Health Service director Inga Milaševiča will step down after the Health Ministry has launched a disciplinary case against her, the ministry said September 30.