Latvians cannot afford healthcare

  • 2007-09-23
  • By Mike Collier

RIGA - The majority of Latvians never visit the doctor. That's not a sign of a nation in rude health, but of a nation that can't afford to fall ill, according to a report from the Central Statistical Bureau.

55 percent of those surveyed said they simply cannot afford medical fees, while 15 percent preferred to rely on the hope that they would get better themselves. Twelve percent said they did not visit a doctor because they did not have enough time.

Around a third of Latvians (35 percent) would describe their health as good or very good, 43 percent average and 22 percent as bad or very bad.