Latvia

Health systems in transition
Latvia
associations of alternative medicine registered within the Latvian Physicians
Association: the Association of Homeopathy, the Association of Eastern
Gymnastics, the Association of Biophysical Medicine, the Association of
Manual Therapy, and the Association of Osteoreflexotherapy. Only one, the
largest of these, the Association of Holistic Medicine and Naturopathy, has the
right to issue certificates in alternative medicine.
Alternative medical services in Latvia are fully reliant on OOP payments, as
none of these are statutorily financed. No alternative therapies or medications
(such as homeopathic medicines) are reimbursable in Latvia (as defined by the
Regulations of Cabinet of Ministers) and none are covered by health insurance,
including private insurance.
There are no data are available on the number of users of these services, or
on the profile(s) of the users.
6.13 Health care for specific populations
All citizens of Latvia and almost all residents are entitled to receive
statutorily financed services (Section 3.3 Population coverage and basis for
entitlement).
Some specific groups within the country for whom special provisions apply
include those detailed here.
Prisoners: Ambulatory and hospital care for prisoners are organized and
financed by the Ministry of Justice, with some services directly provided for
prisons. The Ministry of Justice also funds treatment costs if the services to
the prisoner are provided in prison health care facilities. HIV/AIDS and TB
prevention and treatment in prisons are paid for from the health budget as part
of a national programme.
Chernobyl victims: Victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident are covered
by the main statutory health care system; however, they are exempted from
patient co-payments, and also qualify for 50% state subsidy for dental care and
social rehabilitation.
Politically repressed individuals: Such individuals are covered though the
statutory health care system, but are exempted from patient co-payments.
Low-income individuals: Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of
2003 determine the criteria for formal status of “low-income person”. Lowincome
individuals with formal status as such are exempted from patient copayments.
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