Medical groups demand at least 6% of GDP for healthcare and 30% raise for lowest pay rates

Three healthcare organisations have sent a letter to the country's top officials urging a significant increase in health funding in next year's budget. The Latvian Physicians Association, the Latvian Health and Social Care Workers' Trade Union and the Latvian Hospital Association are demanding at least 6% of GDP and a raise in the lowest statutory wage rates.

The organisations propose gradually increasing health funding to at least 6% of GDP, equivalent to 13–14% of the consolidated state budget. For the 2027 budget specifically, they want the minimum monthly salary rates set in regulations for various categories of medical staff to rise by at least 30%. This would not automatically increase the actual salaries of all employees in the sector.

They also call for a review of tariffs for state-funded services, more financing for primary care and prevention, and reductions in patient waiting lists and co-payments. In addition, they insist that no new decisions on hospital network reorganisation should be made until an independent, publicly available socio-economic impact assessment of the reform has been carried out.

The letter stresses that the current system can no longer be maintained by merely redistributing money between already underfunded programmes. The most significant problems cited are staff shortages, insufficient tariffs for state-paid services and long patient queues.

The organisations welcome the government's July 28 decision to find an additional 14 million euros for regional healthcare availability, but stress that this must be new money, not funds reallocated from other programmes. The money should also reach hospital emergency and admission departments, including in the regions.

Māris Pļaviņš, acting president of the Latvian Physicians Association, says that without additional funding it will become increasingly difficult to ensure timely treatment for patients and retain medical staff in the state system. Artūrs Bērziņš, chairman of the Latvian Hospital Association board, adds that changes are necessary but must not reduce access to care in places where patients have no alternatives.

The letter was addressed to the President, the Speaker of the Saeima, the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Health Minister, urging them to make the necessary decisions during the preparation of the 2027 state budget.