Latvia

Health systems in transition
Latvia
of Health is a representative of the governing political party or coalition, the
continuity of policy is assured by the State’s “Secretary of the Ministry” (whose
position is considered to be independent of the governing party).
In addition to the Ministry of Health, a number of other ministries, including
the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry
of Justice, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Education and Science are
involved in the Latvian health care system. The Ministry of Finance, through
the State Treasury, ensures financial flows from the state budget to the health
care system (as well as for social care services). The Ministry of Welfare
deals with Latvian social security and is therefore responsible for long-term
rehabilitation and nursing care of disabled and impaired individuals and all
other social care services. In addition, the State Labour Inspectorate, under the
Ministry of Welfare, monitors developments in the area of occupational health,
while the State Commission of Physicians for Health, Disability and Capacity to
Work, also under the Ministry of Welfare, is responsible for assessing degrees
of disability. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its Food and Veterinary
Service, controls food safety. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for health
care provision within the penitential system and for refugees. The Ministry
of Education and Science deals with health promotion as well as educational
facilities in the health sector in Latvia.
Ministry of Health
The structure of the Ministry of Health was modified in November 2007.
Changes involved the addition of some new departments, as well as the addition
of new units within departments. The new structure of the Ministry, with all
departments as well as units within each department, is depicted in Fig. 2.2.
In 2007 the structure of the Ministry of Health was reorganized and
currently consists of 11 departments. The parliamentary secretary assures link
between the Cabinet of Ministers and Parliament (Saeima). The Departments
of Administration, Communication, Law and Revision and Internal Audit are
under the direct control of the State Secretary. The other seven departments are
under the direct control of Deputy State Secretaries.
The Department of Health Care elaborates proposals on State policy for
disease prevention, diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and health care
organization. The Medical Treatment Unit deals with quality of treatment,
reproductive health and sports health. The Health Care Organization and
Resources Unit plans resources to assure health care quality, and elaborates
health research and education policy. The Emergency Unit is responsible not
only for the emergency care and medicine involved in preparing for catastrophes,
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