Situation improved in oncology and child healthcare in 2024 - Health Ministry

RIGA - Last year was remarkable for several significant achievements in Latvia's healthcare, including substantial improvements in oncology and child healthcare, however, high rates of preventable causes of death and patient out-of-pocket payments persist, the Health Ministry's deputy state secretary Boriss Knigins said during a meeting of Saeima Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday.

In oncology, premature mortality from malignant tumors decreased by 11 percent compared to 2018, with expenditures totaling EUR 234.4 million. Child health figures also improved: infant mortality dropped by 23.5 percent since 2019, with child healthcare spending amounting to EUR 183.6 million.

In psychiatry, mortality from suicide decreased 5.3 percent, while funding for psychiatry stood at EUR 72.9 million last year. In cardiovascular diseases, 30-day post-hospitalization mortality dropped 9.6 percent for heart attacks and 13.6 percent for strokes, while total financing for treatment of cardiovascular diseases amounted to EUR 157.4 million.

Patients' co-payments for reimbursable medicines decreased 40.4 percent, while budget spending on reimbursable medicines was EUR 285.6 million. The Health Ministry's total budget in 2024 was approximately EUR 1.94 billion.

The ministry's presentation identified several problems and challenges, including shortages of family physicians, delays in information and communication technology (ICT) projects, and persistently high rates of preventable mortality, placing Latvia second-worst in the European Union.

In 2024, healthcare spending per capita in Latvia amounted to EUR 944.67, compared to EUR 1,211.33 in Lithuania and EUR 1,684.50 in Estonia. Alcohol consumption in Latvia is high, 11.7 liters per capita, 29.3 percent of residents are smokers, 19.5 percent of schoolchildren are overweight, and only 18.1 percent of teenagers are physically active every day.

Saeima Budget and Finance Committee will discuss state funding for independent institutions today.

As reported, additional funding of EUR 565.5 million is planned for the priorities set by the government in next year's state budget - security, support for families with children and education, according to the Finance Ministry's information report "On priority measures to be included in the draft state budget law for 2026, 2027 and 2028", approved by the government.

The Finance Ministry informed that of this EUR 320.3 million are earmarked for security, EUR 45 million for education, EUR 94.8 million for supporting families with children and another EUR 105.4 million for other measures. Most of the additional funding for the priorities identified by the government will be provided through cuts in state budget spending.

Ruling coalition parties have agreed to adopt next year's state budget in parliament at the beginning of December.