Covid-19, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Medicine

Vinkele said that currently the medics receive 20 to 50% in additional pay.

As reported, in his address to the public last night, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) spoke about additional measures needed to support medics - the "frontline fighters" against the Covid-19 pandemic. The prime minister said that this week the government would consider additional financial support to the medics.

The minister said that additional hospital beds are being provided for Covid-19 patients by maneuvering and limiting elective procedures where possible but that this cannot be a long-term strategy, because the limiting of scheduled medical procedures eventually affects public health. 

Referring to the situation in Germany, cited by the prime minister in his address, Vinkele noted that, according to OECD data, Germany spends EUR 4,300 per person on healthcare, while Latvia spends only EUR 1,300 per person. "I hope that the prime minister's address means that we will not be skimping on healthcare financing anymore," Vinkele said.

The minister indicated that EUR 183 million have been earmarked in next year's budget for raising medics' salaries but that no additional funding has been earmarked for other programs.