Latvia hospital reform to maintain regional medical services

The Latvian Ministry of Health has announced that its hospital network reform will not concentrate regional patients in Riga. Instead, higher-level medical services will be made available in several regional hospitals.

To address public concerns, the Ministry has launched an information section titled ‘Hospital Network in Latvia’ on its website. This resource explains the necessity of the changes, how hospital levels are determined, and how patient flow and emergency medical assistance will be organized.

Under the new system, the Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) will prioritize transporting patients to facilities that offer the specific specialists, examinations, and treatment capabilities required for their condition, rather than always selecting the geographically closest hospital. Patients will not be responsible for determining which level of hospital to visit; instead, family doctors, emergency services, and electronic health systems will assist in the selection process.

High-level services outside of Riga will be provided at several regional institutions, including hospitals in Daugavpils, Rēzekne, Liepāja, North Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Jelgava, and Jēkabpils. Local hospitals will be maintained to provide emergency care, with most emergency medical and patient admission departments operating 24/7.