One of the pressing issues currently faced by Latvian hospitals is the rising cost of helium, said Artūrs Berziņš, chairman of the Latvian Hospital Association (LHA), in an interview with Latvian Radio.
Helium is primarily used in medicine for treating respiratory disorders and for visual diagnostics.
As Berziņš noted, due to the conflict in the Middle East, helium prices have sharply increased, effectively doubling. Other industries are also feeling this price hike; however, in most cases, they are more financially capable than the healthcare system.
According to the head of the Latvian Hospital Association (LHA), helium cannot be purchased in large quantities at a lower price and stored for long periods, which forces medical institutions to pay more for it.
Prices for other resources used in providing medical services, such as fuel and medications, have also risen. At the same time, funding for Latvian hospitals this year is 1% lower than the actual budget execution for 2024, so the shortage of funds is felt across all positions, Berziņš noted.
