Rural family doctors say Latvia has no clear plan for their role in a military attack

The Latvian Association of Rural Family Doctors, which represents physicians working outside the big cities, warns that family doctors are not fully ready to act at "X hour", meaning a military attack. The broadcaster 360TV Ziņas reported this from Balvi, in eastern Latvia. Family doctors handle more than 70% of patient visits in everyday conditions, so their role in providing help during a crisis would be decisive.

What the doctors demand

The association says that four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Latvia still has no clear plan for how family doctors should act. Doctors are calling for alternative communication and power supply solutions, as well as stocks of medicines.

Līga Kozlovska, a family doctor in Balvi, says about one third of practices have generators, but they cannot withstand heavy use: hers burned out within three days. In her view, it is also unclear how doctors would contact the Emergency Medical Service and hospitals if communications failed.

Doctors currently build up stocks of medicines and equipment on their own initiative and at their own expense, because there is no state funding. Kozlovska adds that the special support promised by the health minister to border-region doctors has remained only a promise.

Ainis Dzalbs, president of the association, notes that pharmacies currently accept only electronic prescriptions. If the internet went down, these could not be issued, and oncology patients and people with mental illnesses could be left without help.

The doctors stress that they have the knowledge and willingness to help and do not want to spread panic, but professionalism alone is not enough.

The ministry's response

The Ministry of Health says general guidelines, including for evacuation, have already been issued to family doctors. It admits they are not detailed enough and promises to improve them soon.

Agnese Vaļuliene, the ministry's state secretary, says a so-called critical network of family doctors is being created. The ministry is surveying specialists who will not try to leave the country and plans to build the network around them.