The possibility of reducing waiting times to see doctors was discussed in the Saeima.
We will hold the minister to his word and demand accountability. This is how the deputies of the Saeima Social Affairs Commission reacted to the health minister's promise to reduce waiting times in queues by as much as 15-20 percent through the unified electronic appointment system! This was reported this evening in a segment by the Panorāma program of Latvian TV.
How can one wait not weeks or even months, but even several years to see a doctor? Such a question was raised by the deputies during the commission meeting.
The problem will be at least partially addressed next year through the modernization of information systems in the healthcare sector and the creation of registries. Currently, electronic referrals to doctors have already been introduced. The government plans to switch entirely to electronic referrals starting in May of next year.
The electronic referral will allow not only the doctor but also the organizers of the healthcare system to see patient flows — when the referral was issued, when the patient scheduled the visit, and when the service was received. Having all the data in one place will help avoid cases of repeating the same actions in a short time without necessity.
"You come to the family doctor for an examination, and the family doctor sees that you just had a blood test when you were at the dermatologist. This information is visible to the family doctor, and he excludes another referral for blood tests since it is unnecessary. So the patient will no longer have to go everywhere with their folder," noted the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Aiga Balode.
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