According to Ministry of Health Communications Office, Latvian Minister of Health Līga Meņģelsone has given Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) Council a month to resolve the conflict situation between the hospital’s board and the doctors employed by Latvian Oncology Centre (LOC).
«The council was ordered to develop a plan for measures to balance contacts and mutual relations, as well as ensure uninterrupted provision of services to cancer patients. Reports are to be submitted to the minister once a week,» as written in the announcement.
Menģelsone comments: «Patients will suffer the most if this situation between RAKUS and LOC remains unresolved. This is why we much make effort and focus available resources to resolve this situation.
Both the hospital’s board and doctors are hostages of the situation with poor funding in the sector.
But we cannot allow a situation when patients lose access to highly qualified doctors and surgeries in a modern and safe environment.»
On the 28th of December, during her visit to RAKUS, the minister met with members of the board, as well as management of LOC and leading specialists.
«I can see this growing problem. I invited the board and doctors to continue working together and reaching an agreement, because I believe and I am convinced that it is possible to find a solution. However, at this time, in order to promote a dialogue and find a solution, I invite RAKUS Council to get involved. This week I met with organisations representing patients, and we have also discussed the situation with the NGO sector.
RAKUS has a big step ahead towards creating a modern and patient-focused healthcare – certification of the Cancer Centre. This step will help bring numerous improvements and changes to cancer patient treatment. This change requires a dialogue between all involved sides. However, this is impossible to do if sides act against one another,» the minister explained in the statement.