Patient groups demand preservation of fare discounts for people with disabilities

The Latvian Patients' Organisation Network (LPOT), which brings together patient associations for various diagnoses, demanded on 6 November 2026 that current public transport fare concessions for people with disabilities be kept. It opposes cuts proposed in a Ministry of Transport (SM) report on public transport funding for 2027–2030. In its view, the cuts could make it harder to reach treatment, rehabilitation, work and education, and increase the risk of social isolation.

What is proposed

Two of the report's three options would cap the state-compensated discount at 70% of the ticket price. People in disability groups one and two, children with disabilities and those accompanying them would then pay 30% of the fare for journeys that are currently free. Changing this would still require amendments to legislation.

LPOT stresses that getting to treatment is part of access to health care. Patients in the regions could be hit hardest, where services are infrequent and distances to specialists are long. Ieva Plūme, head of the Pulmonary Hypertension Society, says patients with the condition travel to Riga several times a year, while Diāna Fausta of the "Mana MS" society notes that multiple sclerosis centres in Latvia are only in Riga.

LPOT board chair Baiba Ziemele gives an example: if a one-way bus ticket from Rēzekne to Riga costs €13.09, a 30% co-payment for a return trip would be about €7.86, or about €15.72 with an accompanying person. The network also objects to the four-day consultation window (2–5 November) and urges that it be extended.

Three funding options

The ministry says base funding has been €93.8 million since 2024, while 2026 costs are forecast at about €109.9 million. The first option stays within base funding by cutting the regional bus network by about 14% and rail services by about 3%, raising fares by about 30% on average and introducing the 70% cap. The second, which the ministry sees as practically feasible, keeps the network, raises fares by about 10% on average and introduces the cap, saving about €6.9 million a year. The third keeps current concessions but would need about €15 million more per year.

Twenty-five institutions and organisations have not approved the report, including the Finance, Education and Science, and Welfare ministries. The Cabinet of Ministers will decide.