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Keris said that the Health Ministry has requested a total of EUR 106 million from the state budget, the allocation of which would "demonstrate the first small step into the right direction in solving the problems."

Keris evaluated the Health Ministry's efforts to discuss and agree on the attainable results, however, in order to fulfill these promises, the ministry requires solid financial aid.

He stressed that the three biggest problems in the healthcare field are the high costs of medical services, the long lines to receive planned medical treatment and the catastrophically low wages for the medical staff.

As reported, Straujuma declared that the next government will have to additionally allot at least EUR 40 million to the healthcare sector next year. She is confident that the law must stipulate heftier funding for healthcare as in the case with defense. "We cannot step back any further," she said, adding that residents are expecting improvement in healthcare.

She also went on to say that healthcare should have its budget increased to 4.5 – 5% of gross domestic product by 2020.

Meanwhile, the Latvian Association of General Practitioners indicated that, although they have a high opinion of Straujuma's initiative for an additional EUR 40 million for healthcare, the amount should be even larger.