Ombudsman: does the government’s work group promise a cat in a bag?

Ombudsman Juris Jansons criticizes Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis’ and Ramualds Razuks’ publicly voiced opinion about mandatory health insurance that includes the enforcement of an additional fee for residents.

Razuks previously made hints that increasing the healthcare budget would require a new form of payment – health insurance. Otherwise, he said the industry would be forced to continue suffering with insufficient funding.

Arstubiedriba.lv portal had also previously reported Razuks’ opinion on this matter.

«I believe the solution can be found nearby, right under our noses. Estonia and Lithuania have had their own mandatory health insurance systems for the past 20 years. Those systems provide longevity for the healthcare system. At its core, the system is made up of fixed monthly payments deducted from gross wages (9% in Lithuania and 13% in Estonia). Pensioners, minors, students and disabled people are insured by the state,» Razuks told arstubiedriba.lv.

The Ombudsman’s Office reports that the 111th Article of the Constitution states that a minimum of medical aid is to be provided to each and every resident. The ombudsman is certain that is important to get a clear answer to the question: ‘What exactly is covered by the minimum?’

The ombudsman adds in his report that because healthcare reform affects all residents in Latvia, it is necessary to perform constructive work and communication with residents.

«Once again different loud announcement about residents’ expenses are made in the social space and once again the topic of actual benefits is not even touched upon. It is especially important that we’re talking about a planned mandatory payment for all residents,» the Ombudsman’s Office explains.

This is why Jansons says: «The government is taking a route for reforming the healthcare system that is completely unclear for society. People want to know what they’re getting for their monthly payments. People want to know with which specialists they will be able to book appointments. And people have the right to know. Only when it is clear what is put on the plate will it be possible to speak of differentiated/progressive payments.»

He continues: «Have there been any discussions about Healthcare Ministry’s plan to guarantee specialists’ availability within 90 days? Are residents satisfied with that? Shouldn’t the state take responsibility and divide resources from the budget to secure the necessary funding? How do you explain to residents that by paying EUR 20 every month there will be a guarantee they will be able to use services of a specialist in three months’ time if they can do that now for EUR 60 and within a week?» says the ombudsman.

The ombudsman believes politicians cannot expect public understanding if all they offer is a cat in a bag. Healthcare must comply with what is written in the Constitution.

The ombudsman and, according to him, the rest of society have concerns that the money will be taken but services will remain unavailable. In this case, similar to how things are in healthcare at the moment, this system will work against what the Constitution states.

BNN 

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