The incidence of malignant tumors is rising across Europe, including Latvia, writes Latvijas Avīze.
Society is aging, diagnostic capabilities are improving, and early detection programs for cancer have been implemented. It is projected that by 2035, there will be about 11,000 new cases of cancer in Latvia and around 6,000 people will die from it. Looking at today’s figures, they do not significantly differ from this forecast - annually, more than 10,000 people in the country are diagnosed with tumors for the first time, and about 5,800 people die from them each year, with every fourth not reaching the age of 65.
Overall, about 90,000 people in the country suffer from cancer. The healthcare system must operate in such a way that the number of deaths decreases and tumors are detected as early as possible - at initial stages. This is why, ten years ago, in October 2016, the 'green corridor' was introduced. Its goal is for a patient to receive state-funded diagnostic services within ten days, outside the quotas of medical institutions, and to be able to start treatment immediately. Since January 1, 2022, a 'yellow corridor' has also been created for those patients who experience a recurrence after treatment.
However, the biggest problems arise for patients when the 'green corridor' has been completed and they need to undergo follow-up examinations and checks with specialists to ensure that cancer does not return. They often have to wait for months in long queues. Latvia lacks radiologists and oncologists-chemotherapists, and patients are forced to pay for treatment, even though it should be free.
The National Health Service does not have data on how many such paying patients there are each year because the accounting system does not function as it should. However, a survey of doctors and patients about how the 'green corridor' works showed that, overall, oncologists, family doctors, and cancer patients evaluate it positively.
