Maternity Ward Closed in Balvi — Pregnant Women in Border Region Unsure Where to Get Care

Since September, the maternity ward at Balvi Hospital has fallen silent, with no services being provided. This has created significant difficulties for pregnant women living in the border region near Russia, who no longer have access to midwife services close to home.

Conflicting explanations

The parties involved disagree on why the ward was closed. The Health Ministry states that the decision to close the department was an initiative taken by the hospital itself. Hospital management, however, offers a different account, citing a lack of funding combined with the effects of a recently implemented healthcare reform.

Consequences for expectant mothers

The practical impact is already being felt by pregnant residents of the border area. Even for the simplest procedures — such as listening to a fetal heartbeat — women now must travel to more distant hospitals. The nearest facilities offering such services are located in Rezekne or Valmiera, both roughly 100 kilometers from the border region.

This distance poses a serious obstacle for pregnant women who need regular checkups with a doctor or midwife, particularly given that the border area is far from Latvia's major medical centers. The situation raises questions about access to medical care in remote parts of the country following the implementation of the healthcare system reform.