The head of the LLC “Dobele and Surrounding Hospital” (Dobeles un apkārtnes slimnīca) Leon Zarins is concerned about the uncertainty regarding the future volume of emergency medical care provision, according to information published by the municipality about the development opportunities and challenges facing the hospital, writes LETA.
According to him, the government plans to concentrate major medical services in large cities, leaving only therapeutic departments and care beds in local hospitals.
“This will limit the availability of specialists and complicate patients' access to both emergency and planned care,” said Zarins.
The chairman of the municipal hospital's board emphasizes that the planned reforms create uncertainty for both patients and staff, which affects both development plans and the retention and motivation of employees.
“Moreover, frequent changes in government funding and conditions hinder long-term planning. Without stable government policy and funding, the institution cannot fully develop services or invest in infrastructure,” noted the head of the hospital.
He believes that the biggest challenge at the moment is the uncertainty regarding the volume of emergency care in the future. If the Ministry of Health (MoH) decides that only therapeutic departments will remain in local hospitals, this will significantly impact both the institutions and the patients, he emphasizes.
“The elimination of departments will limit the opportunities for family doctors and specialists to refer patients for inpatient treatment, which will create additional uncertainty. For example, if a person is injured and urgently needs help, it may happen that at that moment there simply will not be a suitable specialist,” describes the situation the hospital director.
The doctor also notes that one negative experience can undermine a patient's trust not only in a specific hospital but also in the entire healthcare system.
“I do not agree with the reform that provides for the centralization of services only in republican cities. Full assistance to patients should also be ensured in the regions with a sufficient number of staff,” emphasizes Zarins.
According to data from “Firmas.lv,” the turnover of the “Dobele and Surrounding Hospital” in 2024 amounted to 8,161,149 euros, with a profit of 75,846 euros.
As previously reported, the MoH proposes to transition from the current five-level model to a three-level hospital system by 2029, as well as to introduce a funding system based on quality indicators and to provide greater flexibility for healthcare institutions in the use of funds, according to the ministry's report “On the Hospital Network.”
The report covers the principles of organizing the hospital network, rather than changes in the operations of specific institutions. “It is important to emphasize that no decisions have been made at this time regarding the revision of profiles or the reorganization of specific hospitals,” the ministry stated.
The MoH proposes to switch to a three-level model: multidisciplinary hospitals, regional hospitals, and local hospitals.
It is planned that specialized medical institutions will be formed into a separate network. Regional hospitals will ensure therapeutic and surgical profiles, while others will be provided as needed and depending on available resources. At the same time, these hospitals will have round-the-clock access to functional, visual diagnostics, and laboratory research services.
Considering patient flows and available human resources, local hospitals will be divided into two groups: institutions where an emergency medical care and patient reception department (EMCPD) will remain, and institutions where an emergency medical assistance department will operate.
In local hospitals where the EMCPD will remain, emergency care will be provided around the clock by a specialist in internal medicine (therapy) or surgery. Planned therapeutic services will also be provided in these institutions, including care for chronic patients, continuation of treatment, and rehabilitation after more serious inpatient treatment in higher-level hospitals.
The levels of hospitals and the volume of inpatient services will be determined based on the capabilities of the institution, the availability of medical personnel, infrastructure, and the complexity of the services provided, explains the MoH.
At the same time, it is assumed that emergency medical care will be available in all hospitals, regardless of their level. In each of them, the population will have access to doctors, auxiliary staff, as well as laboratory and diagnostic examinations on a round-the-clock basis.
