Given the current level of funding and the need for austerity, residents will not experience improvements in the healthcare sector next year, according to Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity), as stated in the TV3 program “900 Seconds.”
He explained that the Ministry of Health (MoH) regularly reviews services and programs to assess their effectiveness and, if necessary, reallocates funds to other priorities.
“Therefore, if we save money in one program, we have a long queue of services that require funding,” the minister clarified.
As a result, it is very difficult for the MoH to implement savings and “return money to the budget” from the healthcare system.
“Next year, based on our priorities, we are short 650 million euros just to reach the level of Lithuania – I’m not even talking about Estonia,” Abu Meri said in reference to the 2025 budget.
He stressed that while residents will not feel a reduction in funding, they also will not notice any improvements.
“Improvements are necessary, but if there is no additional funding, what can we improve?” the minister added.
It has been reported that, according to MoH calculations, an additional 651 million euros will be required for healthcare next year. However, due to the government’s decision not to submit any priority initiatives, this target currently seems unachievable.
Abu Meri emphasized that austerity in the health budget can only be achieved through reducing administrative costs, to avoid any deterioration in access to or quality of patient care.
In his view, it is clear that the funding level required for healthcare will not be feasible in the 2026 state budget. However, he will continue negotiations with government colleagues and “fight until the end to ensure that a safe Latvia also means healthy people, and that the healthcare sector receives additional funding – especially to strengthen the country’s demographic situation.”
Additional funding is particularly essential for the implementation of the Maternal and Child Health Plan,
for improving sectoral readiness and for activating the supply of critical medications. Enhancing access to healthcare services in the regions – particularly strengthening primary care as the cornerstone of the health sector – is also a matter of public safety, Abu Meri believes.
The MoH is committed to continuing work on optimization measures within the sector. This includes changes in the management of psychiatric hospitals, i.e., administrative consolidation of hospitals, which would create savings not only within capital companies but also improve oversight efficiency. To ensure quality inpatient services across the country, the ministry is also working on reviewing the hospital network and the classification of hospital levels.
Work also continues on revising the healthcare service funding model, exploring opportunities for administrative cost reductions, and reassessing the functions of the MoH and its subordinate institutions with the aim of identifying optimization potential.
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