Petition Launched for State-Funded Meals for Children in Day Hospitals

The author of the initiative, Vladimirs Kustovs, proposes amending regulations to ensure that all children receiving care in day hospitals have the right to full meals covered by the state.

Kustovs notes that children often spend 6 to 10 hours or more in day hospitals undergoing chemotherapy, infusions, and other procedures, yet hospitals do not provide meals and the state does not cover them. He argues that sick children should not go hungry simply because they are treated in a day hospital.

The proposal stipulates that meals should be appropriate for the child's age and any prescribed diet. The author believes these changes would reduce the financial burden on families, especially those with children undergoing long-term treatment, and ensure a uniform standard across all Latvian hospitals. It would also strengthen the protection of children's rights in healthcare.