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The decision to alter the makeup of the boards had to be made fast, explained Zvidrina. That is why no competition for the new members of the hospitals' boards was announced, which is line with the law that stipulates that no competition is necessary for such jobs in government-run companies if it may affect the companies' capacity to act.

According to Zvidrina, the candidates were required to have experience of work in public as well as private sectors. Healthcare professionals and persons who understand how financial procedures in hospitals are run were wanted, she explained.

Kaspars Plume, the new board member at the Eastern Hospital's board, is in charge of procurement tenders and the hospital's properties, as the hospital has several buildings at different addresses, said Zvidrina.

On the other hand, the Stradins Hospital's new board member Normunds Stals is in charge of construction of a new wing for the hospital.

Zvidrina made the decision to alter the makeup of the hospitals' boards following meetings with members of the hospitals' boards and seeing what problems the hospitals had to tackle. If necessary, the Health Ministry can release any hospital board member, she added.

As reported, Eastern Hospital's board chairman Viesturs Boka and board member Imants Rezebergs stepped down on February 18. Anita Slokenberga was appointed the new chairwoman of the hospital's board, her colleagues on the board are Plume and Boka. Plume previously worked at the State Revenue Service and several Riga municipal companies.

The same day, Stals was appointed a member of the board at Stradins Hospital to supervise construction projects of the hospital. Dins Smits is the board's chairman, and Anda Caksa is the third board member.