A Hopeful Message for Cancer Patients or Empty Words? 0 8

This was reported by the president's advisor, Mārtiņš Drēgeris.

He emphasized that the president has thoroughly reviewed the open letter from the support society for cancer patients "Let's Help Each Other," which contains a call to find an additional 150 million euros in the state budget to include life-saving medications for 80 patients in the list of reimbursable drugs.

In the open letter, the organization highlights that these medications are awaited by approximately 7,000 patients and notes that charitable organizations receive dozens of requests for assistance each year, as medical councils prescribe innovative drugs to combat the disease.

The letter explains that the cost of these medications reaches thousands of euros, and Latvian families are unable to cover them. In turn, the National Health Service (NHS), guided by the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations, denies individual compensation to some patients. Currently, the maximum amount is 30,000 euros per year. The organization emphasizes that often even this amount is insufficient, as innovative medicines are more expensive.

The letter states that in the first three months of this year, more than 47 cancer patients sought help from charitable organizations in Latvia after the NHS denied individual compensation, and that the necessary medications are not included in the list of reimbursable drugs. According to the organization's estimate, more than 2 million euros are needed to assist all these people.

The letter also cites research data from the International Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies, indicating that Latvia uses some of the most outdated medications in Europe for patient treatment. Additionally, approximately 8,000 people die each year in the country whose deaths could be prevented.

The organization calls on the president to use his constitutional authority and public influence to initiate urgent political actions and secure an allocation of an additional 150 million euros in the state budget to include life-saving medications for 80 patients in the list of reimbursable drugs.