The Latvian Ministry of Health proposes that the state consider the possibility of participating in the capital of regional hospitals and make the necessary changes to the legislation. One of the medical institutions that is planned to be transferred to the state is the Daugavpils Regional Hospital. This is reported by Latvian media.
DRB’s financial problems were widely discussed last year, when it found itself in debt and turned to the Ministry of Health for help. Despite some improvement, the problems remain.
The Ministry of Health proposes to create a unified management model for a number of regional medical institutions, including the DRB. There are currently 55 registered inpatient medical institutions in Latvia, more than half of which are owned by local governments. Such a diversity of ownership forms is the result of numerous reforms in the health care system, which limits the possibilities for cooperation between medical institutions.
The Ministry of Health believes that in some cases the state should take over the capital shares belonging to local governments. This will require amendments to a number of laws and regulations.
The advantages of state participation in regional hospitals, according to the Ministry of Health, are obvious: a single standard of quality and safety of medical services, balanced accessibility, effective methodological guidance, and closer cooperation between clinical university and regional hospitals. This will allow for more efficient use of human resources and coordination of patient hospitalization.
One of the key advantages is the financial aspect. Currently, the financial situation of regional hospitals depends on the state of local government budgets, which violates the right of Latvian residents to equal access to quality medical services. State management will allow centralizing and optimizing the distribution of funding depending on the volume and complexity of medical services provided, as well as standardizing equipment purchases, repairs, technology implementation, and labor remuneration.
These proposals are detailed in a recent report by the Ministry of Health, which pays special attention to the DRB. In September 2023, the Daugavpils municipality expressed its willingness to transfer its shares of the hospital capital to the state.
If the government decides positively, the Ministry of Health plans to inform the Cabinet of Ministers by October 1, 2025, about the progress and further steps in the management of inpatient services.
Source: www.gorod.lv
