However, the ministry decided not to close the maternity hospitals in Balvo and Dobele.

Mengelsone admitted that she was worried about the negative statistics of Latvia, indicating the low quality of treatment. Of particular concern is maternal and child mortality, the quality of childbirth. Therefore, it is important for her to understand the reasons and discuss the steps that need to be taken to improve these indicators.

After listening to the arguments of local governments and hospital specialists, taking into account the aspect of regional accessibility, the existing infrastructure and distances between medical facilities, as well as social aspects, it was decided not to move forward with the proposal to close maternity hospitals. in Balvo and Dobele. However, in order to ensure the maintenance of staff qualifications and maternal and child safety in hospitals with a relatively low number of births, solutions will be sought with industry experts to ensure the qualifications of department staff in the hospital cooperation areas. .

Previously, it was planned to stop providing assistance to pregnant women and women in childbirth in the Dobele hospital and its surroundings and in the association of hospitals in Balva and Gulbene, referring patients to the pregnancy and childbirth departments of the Jelgava City and Rezekne hospitals, respectively.

It has already been reported that the plan includes a special strengthening of hospital receptions or emergency departments, and the planned changes are being made in the interests of patients. Emergency departments will be strengthened throughout the country, making them more accessible to patients 24 hours a day. In order to strengthen these departments and unify the provision of emergency care throughout the country, it is planned to discuss and introduce changes and clarifications to the requirements for medical institutions in cooperation with hospitals.

For the development of the hospital network, quality criteria have been developed for the main profiles of inpatient medical services – surgery, gynecology, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, therapy and traumatology. The need for the required number of medical personnel will be determined depending on the number of patients of the corresponding inpatient profile, technical support, as well as other resources that should be available 24/7, for example, equipment for conducting diagnostic tests, a laboratory.

It is also planned to evaluate additional performance indicators of the relevant profile compared with the results of other countries, such as the number of manipulations performed, the proportion of complications, the need for re-hospitalization within 72 hours after discharge from the hospital, the average duration of hospital treatment, etc.

In a conversation with local governments, the proposed changes in the transfer and concentration of patients of certain inpatient profiles in hospitals of a higher level were specifically explained. Mengelson stressed that proposals based on the vision of industry experts are currently being presented, but there is still room for discussion.

As reported, in May the Cabinet of Ministers approved an informative report “Proposals for strengthening the hospital network”, which provides for the introduction of an integrated, people-oriented, high-quality and cost-effective healthcare system in Latvia. The aim of the ongoing reforms is the timely and high-quality provision of medical care to patients, as well as the effective planning of human resources, infrastructure and financing available in the health sector.