Innovative medicines pay back more than tenfold for Latvia, but access still lags
Every euro the state invests in innovative medicines generates society more than 10 euros in socioeconomic benefit, yet Latvia remains among the last in Europe for access to new drugs. Health sector voices are calling for words to finally turn into action.
Latvia's healthcare system continues to face serious pressures — an aging population, a growing burden of chronic disease, and sustained fiscal strain. At the same time, calculations show that every euro the state invests in innovative medicines generates society more than tenfold in socioeconomic returns. Despite this, Latvia still ranks among the last countries in Europe when it comes to patients' access to new medicines.
Decades of medical progress
Over recent decades, medical advances have fundamentally changed the outlook for many diseases. Conditions that were once fatal have often become manageable, chronic illnesses. Statistics show that since 1991, mortality from all forms of cancer has fallen by 21%. In the European Union, deaths from cardiovascular disease dropped by 37% between 2000 and 2012.
Another striking example is hepatitis C: of roughly 15 million patients across Europe living with the condition, 95% can now be fully cured through a treatment course lasting just 8 to 12 weeks.
A priority on paper, not yet in practice
Although the health sector has formally been labeled a national priority in Latvia in recent years, the reality tells a different story — the country still significantly lags behind the European Union average in healthcare, including access to innovative medicines. The pre-election period is described as a fitting moment for declared intentions on improving healthcare to finally be translated into concrete action.
