Currently there is a shortage of 300 doctors and 8 000 nurses in Latvia, as reported by Latvian Medical Association (LAB) President Ilze Aizsilniece at a conference organised by Olainfarm JSC on Friday, the 10th of March.
She stressed that social and economic growth is not possible without healthy and active residents, which is something influenced by the funding provided to the healthcare sector.
«The healthcare sector is not wasteful, it is a tool that keeps people healthy and able to work,» said Aizsilniece.
She said last year an average Latvian resident spent EUR 1 369 on healthcare services. In Lithuania this amount reached EUR 2 100. Compared with Latvia, the average length of life in Estonia and Lithuania is longer, which, according to LAB president, also contributes to those countries’ economic development.
At the same time, Aizsilniece explained that in the future investments into the development of healthcare and accessibility will not go down, which is largely influenced by the prices of medical technologies and medicines.
Commenting on the recently approved state budget, Aizsilniece said it «allows falling into complete ruins».
She said she hopes in the future Latvia will be able to create a state and healthcare system under which people live healthy lives and for their and their children’s future.
Rural Family Doctors Association’s vice-president Ainis Dzalbs mentioned during the discussion that together with investments into medicines and pharmacy, it is also highly important to invest in education and science. It is also necessary to increase the number of resident doctors to resolve the problem of shortage of specialists.
Children’s Clinical University Hospital board chairman Valts Ābols mentioned it is necessary to enhance the stability of the healthcare system.
According to him, if the number of nurses does not increase, healthcare accessibility will enter a state of imbalance, and every person will be forced to take care of themselves.
Director of the Infectious Diseases Risks Analysis Office of the State Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre Jurijs Perevoščikovs mentioned at the discussion that it is no less important to invest in new technologies and new preventive measures, as well as public education programmes to change residents’ health habits.
As for preventive measures, Perevoščikovs mentioned raising awareness and education, pharmaceutical activities and vaccination, which helps prevent the rise of the number of infected people, especially in situations like the one observed during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
Olainfarm is engaged in production of ready-made medicines, pharmaceutical substances and supplements, as well as production of chemical substances and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Olainfarm concern includes Klīnika DiaMed LLC, OlainMed, Latvijas aptieka LLC, Silvanols LLC, Olainfarm enerģija LLC, Farmācijas LLC, Global Lux LLC, Tonus Elast LLC and biomedicine and medical technologies Competence Centre.
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