The funding of the healthcare sector in the next three years should reach EUR 2.5 billion, said Latvian Minister of Health Hosams Abu Meri in an interview to Latvijas Radio.
He said the next year’s budget for healthcare should be bigger than this year’s, and it will allow moving towards accomplishing the aforementioned goal – EUR 2.5 billion in three years.
This year Latvian healthcare sector’s budget is around EUR 1.8 billion.
Abu Meri stressed that his chances of accomplishing improvements for the sector will largely depend on his ability to cooperate with doctors and colleagues in the government.
The new minister also plans to consult with his predecessor Līga Meņģelsone.
Abu Meri’s priorities include the organisation of the medicines pricing policy and expansion of the range of compensated medicines. The minister also plans to reinforce the general practitioners institute and create an efficient and widely functional e-health system.
In regards to e-health, Abu Meri admits that the existing system is unacceptable. This is why it is possible it will be necessary to create something new.
Also read: Medical workers trade union to make final decision on industry strike in October