Budget, Financial Services, Funds, Latvia, Medicine

Caksa and Kucinskis agreed that additional financing for increasing wages of childbirth specialists and other medics who provide emergency medical services so far will be found within the sector, but later the government will decide how to compensate that.

Kucinskis told the press that an agreement has been reached that financing will be increased to those hospitals that ensure emergency services 24 hours a day, including childbirths.

Caksa said that, in her opinion, the "first fire has been extinguished". Wages for medics who so far had not been additionally paid for working at nights, might grow by about 20%.

In total about EUR 10 miln a year might be needed in additional financing for hospitals ensuring emergency medical services.

As reported, Riga Maternity Hospital staff are demanding higher wages and will cut their shifts, including on weekends and holidays, or even leave jobs if their demands are not met.