After the reform of the hospital network, continuous duty of one or two doctors will be ensured around the clock in all emergency medical departments and hospital admission departments, the Ministry of Health reported today following negotiations with representatives of the Latvian Hospital Association (LHA) and the Latvian Association of Large Hospitals.
The Ministry of Health notes that the proposed solution was prepared in collaboration with hospitals during individual negotiations, taking into account the vision and development capabilities of the hospitals themselves, as well as in alignment with the vision of health policy developers.
After reviewing the funding for emergency medical departments and patient admissions, part of the funds is planned to be directed towards ensuring on-call doctors, observation services, improving access to outpatient care, and revising rates for inpatient services.
Participants in the meeting also discussed the reorganization of human resources. The goal is to align the availability of specialists with the actual flow of patients by reallocating some specialists from the emergency department to work as on-call doctors.
Currently, amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers' rules on the organization and payment procedures for healthcare services are being prepared, stipulating that the new order - revised hospital levels and criteria for the operation of emergency departments - may come into effect on January 1, 2027.
The most suitable solutions were discussed individually with each region, taking into account border areas and the needs of local residents, said Health Minister Hosam Abu Meri. The aim of the changes is to create a clear and understandable system in which every patient knows where to receive the necessary assistance.
