Among those who did not support the request to the minister regarding diabetes patients were also medical deputies.
Before the Easter holidays, the Saeima considered an opposition request to the Minister of Health regarding the government's refusal to finance the purchase of special analyzers for patients with type 1 diabetes to monitor blood sugar levels. The ruling coalition deputies, including three practicing physician deputies, voted against the request.
Latvian TV program Panorāma approached these deputies to explain their voting.
"There’s just no money for this," said family doctor and Saeima deputy Ivars Yakovins, adding that diabetes patients have already learned to live with the disease and control their sugar levels.
In turn, deputy and gynecologist Ingriida Circe explained that it was not about allocating funds for devices for diabetics, but about a request to the minister, which could lead to the resignation of the Minister of Health. That is why the deputy voted against it.
Family doctor and deputy Liga Kozlovska stated that there are no such funds in the treasury; nevertheless, the deputies expect that a solution will still be found by the Ministry of Health—perhaps through redistribution.
"My vote wouldn’t have changed anything anyway," concluded the deputy, provoking a wave of outrage on social media.
