In the TV24 program "Week. Post Scriptum," President Edgars Rinkevics outlined several state-important issues that, in his opinion, need to be addressed in 2026.
Among the most important points to pay attention to, the president highlighted public solidarity and the culture of donations, as well as the distribution of funding and long-standing issues within the healthcare system.
The president noted that Latvia is an aging society, and this directly affects the healthcare system. Hospitals are experiencing queues, there is a lack of funds, and at the end of the year, there is a regular need to address the issue of repaying debts of medical institutions. He believes that such a situation is abnormal and repeats itself year after year.
At the same time, Rinkevics pointed out the growing misunderstanding and distrust in society when people see reports of large sums being invested in various campaigns or projects, while in everyday life citizens are asked to donate for treatment or support for children. This creates a feeling that the system is not fully organized and there is a lack of a clear hierarchy of priorities, as quoted by NRA.lv.
The president acknowledged that the solutions will not be simple. Structural reforms will be required, including the reorganization of the hospital network. However, reforms alone will not be enough - the healthcare sector will also need additional funding.
Rinkevics emphasized that reality requires moving in two directions simultaneously: bringing the healthcare system in order and finding more financial resources.
"I believe that reality requires - and this will already be the task of the next government, as I doubt that any significant decisions will be made before the elections - to pursue both paths: to work on reorganizing the hospital network, to implement sometimes painful reforms, but at the same time, additional funding will be necessary," Rinkevics stated.
Leave a comment