Latvia’s healthcare system requires multiple improvements, said PM Krišjānis Kariņš in an interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma.
When asked to comment claims from the Hospital Association, that the budget shortage may cause the healthcare system to end up in a situation when it is no longer possible to provide state-funded services, Kariņš said that he is not informed of the internal monetary flows of the Ministry of Health.
At the same time, he mentioned that
“there is a lot to improve in the healthcare system”, such as add improvements to the hospital network,
which would help spend the money the state has more rationally.
The PM said there is always a shortage of budget funds for various medical sectors even though the sector receives additional funding every year.
The politician said the changes to the hospital level currently prepared by the Ministry of Health might not contribute much this year. This is why ministers were asked to look at their respective budget programmes that may fail in order to divide money in favour of programmes that require money the most.
He said again that every year approximately EUR 100 million of budget funds end up unused.
Kariņš said so far ministers haven’t been very responsible to the invitation to look for ways to save money, adding that each individual minister is more focused on their respective fields. If ministries fail to find money through collective distribution of funds, it may be necessary to intervene from the side, and Ministry of Finance may present its vision around the middle of June.
Minister of Health Līga Meņģelsone mentioned at a previous government meeting that Latvia’s healthcare sector will require an additional EUR 150 million this year.
Also read: Latvian Ministry of Defence in the process of terminating contract with Zītari LZ