MPs hear patient groups' criticism of healthcare system at charity's offices
The Saeima's Public Health Subcommittee held a field session at the charity “Palīdzēsim viens otram,” where patient organizations raised concerns about medicine access and healthcare shortcomings. Lawmakers promised solutions, but a funding increase is tied to the period after the next elections.
On September 11, the Saeima's Public Health Subcommittee held a field session at the offices of the charity “Palīdzēsim viens otram” (Let's Help Each Other). The meeting brought together the subcommittee's chair, members of parliament, and representatives of several patient and healthcare organizations, including the Latvian Patient Organizations Network, the Latvian Hemophilia Society, the oncology patient alliance “Onkoalianse,” the Latvian Diabetes Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Society, “Dzīvības koks” (Tree of Life), and the Alliance for Men's Health.
The discussion focused less on statistics and more on the lived experience of seriously ill patients — long waits for diagnostic tests, unfunded medications, and paid visits to specialists. An ambassador for the “Bez veselības nav valsts” (No Health, No State) initiative, who leads a support group for oncology patients, shared accounts of everyday struggles faced by group members, including cases where patients had to pay for oncologist visits or faced impatience from medical staff.
Medicine access
One pressing issue concerns medications still not included on the list of reimbursable drugs — around 80 drug names are awaited by at least 7,000 patients. The National Health Service was unable to prepare accurate figures on these medications for over a week. Vladislava Marāne, director of SIFFA, presented research showing 90% of surveyed employers report extra strain on colleagues due to employees' health problems, while more than half of companies deal with frequent or prolonged staff absences. 85% of employers support expanding access to reimbursable medications.
“Dzīvības koks” mentor Olga Zeile stressed that patients should not have to rely on public donations to access needed medicines — these should instead be available through the healthcare system itself.
Future promises
The session concluded with a promise to raise healthcare funding to 6% of GDP, though this is linked to the period following the next elections. After the meeting, lawmakers toured the organization's warehouse and learned more about its volunteers' daily work.
