Latvia (LV)

Latvia is a parliamentary republic and EU member state on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus.

Capital: Riga

Region: Europe

Language: Latvian

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 48)

Emergency: 112

Healthcare in Latvia

Latvia operates a mixed public-private healthcare system funded primarily through mandatory health insurance contributions (veselības apdrošināšanas iemaksas) collected as part of mandatory social insurance contributions (VSAOI). The public system is administered by the National Health Service (NVVĀ — Nacionālais veselības dienests), which contracts with healthcare providers. The system provides subsidised healthcare for insured persons. Unlike Denmark's fully tax-funded model, Latvian healthcare requires active insurance contributions — persons without sufficient contributions face higher out-of-pocket costs. Healthcare quality has improved significantly since EU accession but still lags behind Scandinavian standards in some areas, particularly wait times for specialists.

Middle tier in EU (Euro Health Consumer Index). Good primary care in Riga; significant urban-rural quality gap. Specialist waiting times can be long in the public system.

Public healthcare: Nacionālais veselības dienests (NVD)

National Health Service of Latvia

Eligibility:Employed persons, self-employed persons, pensioners, children under 18, and persons receiving VSAA benefits are automatically insured through contributions. Unemployed registered job-seekers registered at NVA are covered. EU citizens exercising free movement rights in Latvia are covered after registration and contribution start. Non-EU residents with temporary residence permits who are employed or registered as self-employed are covered. Persons not meeting these criteria must pay €1.46 daily or €533.15/year voluntary health contributions to receive coverage.

Monthly cost:For employed persons: health insurance is included in mandatory VSAOI contributions (10.5% employee + 23.59% employer). Voluntary contributions for non-covered persons: €533.15/year (€44.43/month).

What's included:

Family doctor (ģimenes ārsts) visits — free or minimal co-payment
Emergency medical care — free regardless of insurance status
Hospital inpatient treatment — subsidised (co-payment applies)
Specialist visits with referral — subsidised
Preventive examinations and screenings (cancer screening, etc.)
Maternity care (prenatal, delivery, postnatal) — free for insured
Mental health care via referral
Vaccinations per national schedule — free
Prescription medicines — subsidised list (kompensējamie medikamenti)
Dental care for children under 18 — free

Not included (or co-pay required):

Adult dental care (18+) — not covered, full out-of-pocket cost
Glasses and contact lenses (except specific medical conditions)
Cosmetic procedures
Alternative medicine and complementary therapies
Medicines not on the subsidised list (reimbursable drug list)
Some elective procedures with long waiting times — often obtained privately
Services for persons without health insurance coverage (full cost or emergency minimum)

Co-payments:Co-payments (pacienta iemaksas) apply in the public system: family doctor visit: €0–1.42. Specialist visit with referral: €4.27. Ambulance call: €0 (emergency). Inpatient hospital stay: €7.11/day (maximum 30 days/year). Specialist visit without referral (direct access): higher co-payment. Emergency department visit (non-emergency): €17.50. Prescription drugs: variable subsidy — 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% compensation depending on the drug and condition.

How to enrol:1. Register your residence at PMLP and obtain personas kods. 2. Start employment (your employer registers you for VSAOI, including health insurance). 3. Register with a family doctor (ģimenes ārsts) in your area via e-veseliba.gov.lv or by contacting the practice directly. 4. For non-employed persons: contact NVD about voluntary health insurance contributions or verify your coverage status via e-veseliba.gov.lv.

Waiting period:Family doctor visits: typically 1–5 days. Specialist with referral: 1–6 months in public system (significant waiting times for popular specialisms). Emergency: immediate. Cancer diagnostics: 10-day urgency protocol for suspected cancer.

Private healthcare: Private Health Insurance (Privātā veselības apdrošināšana)

Who can use it:Available to all residents in Latvia. Common employer benefit — many Riga employers include private health insurance in employment packages.

When it makes sense:For faster access to specialists without long waiting times, wider choice of doctors and hospitals, dental care, optical, and comprehensive care without co-payments. Very cost-effective in Latvia compared to Western European private insurance.

Monthly cost:Individual private insurance: €30–100/month depending on coverage. Employer-provided group insurance (common in corporate sector): €25–60/person/month. One-time private specialist visit without insurance: €50–150.

Major providers:

BALTA (one of Latvia's largest private insurers)AAS "BTA Baltic Insurance Company"Compensa Vienna Insurance GroupErgo InsuranceCapital Clinic Riga (major private clinic)AXA (international corporate coverage)

Accessing care

GP system

Every registered resident is encouraged to enrol with a ģimenes ārsts (family doctor) — the primary care gatekeeper. Find and register with a family doctor via the e-veseliba portal (eveseliba.gov.lv) or by contacting a healthcare centre (veselības centrs) directly. Your family doctor issues referrals to specialists and manages preventive care. Unlike Denmark, direct access to some specialists (dermatologist, ophthalmologist, gynaecologist) is possible without GP referral but with a higher co-payment.

Specialist referral

Your family doctor issues a referral (nosūtījums) to a specialist. You can then book an appointment via the NVD e-referral system or by contacting the specialist clinic. Choice of specialist clinic is available — public and private. Waiting times in the public system can be long (1–6 months). Private specialists: appointments often within 1–2 weeks.

Emergency care

Emergency: call 113 (ambulance) or 112 (general emergency). Go to the nearest emergency room (neatliekamā medicīniskā palīdzība — NMP). Emergency care is free for all persons regardless of insurance status. Main emergency hospitals in Riga: Rīgas Austrumu Universitātes slimnīca (East Hospital) and Rīgas Stradiņa Universitātes slimnīca.

Out of hours

For out-of-hours non-emergency care, call your family doctor's practice (they typically have an on-call protocol or recorded message). Riga First Aid Medical Service (Neatliekamā medicīniskā palīdzība): 113. Some private clinics offer extended hours and weekend appointments.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions are issued electronically by your doctor. Present your eID or personas kods at any pharmacy (aptieka) to collect subsidised medicines. The subsidised drug list is managed by NVD — check kompensejamiezali.lv for reimbursable medicines. OTC medicines available without prescription.

Dental

Adults (18+): dental care is NOT covered by the public insurance system. Private dental clinics are affordable in Latvia compared to Western Europe. Regular check-up: €20–50. Fillings: €30–80. Dental implant: €800–1,500. Children under 18 receive free dental care through the state programme. Some private health insurance packages include dental coverage.

Mental health

Public mental health: referral from family doctor to psychiatrist (psihiatrs) or psychologist (psihologs). BKUS (Children's Clinical University Hospital) for children. For adults: psychiatric services at hospitals. Significant waiting times in the public system. Private psychologists: €40–80/session. Crisis line: 116123 (free, 24/7).

Maternity

Maternity care is fully covered for insured women. Prenatal visits with obstetrician-gynaecologist: covered. Birth in maternity hospital: covered with co-payment. Postnatal support: visiting midwife service available. Latvia has good maternity outcomes and multiple maternity hospitals in Riga. Natural birth and planned caesarean both available.

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

Obtain your personas kods — this is the key to accessing all Latvian services including healthcare.
Start employment and VSAOI contributions to activate health insurance coverage.
Register with a family doctor (ģimenes ārsts) via eveseliba.gov.lv — do this early before you need care.
Check your insurance coverage status at eveseliba.gov.lv — log in with eID.
Keep your Latvian eID card or personas kods with you for all medical appointments.
Consider private health insurance for faster access and dental coverage.

Finding English-speaking doctors:English-speaking doctors are available in Riga, particularly in private clinics and at Capital Clinic Riga, 1. Medicīnas centrs, and other private healthcare providers. Many younger doctors in Riga speak English. Outside Riga, English may be less available — Russian is a more reliable second language in regional Latvia. The European emergency number 112 has English-speaking operators.

International insurance:If you are covered by international health insurance from your employer (AXA, Cigna, Bupa, etc.), most Latvian private hospitals and clinics accept direct billing. Check your policy for Latvia coverage. EU EHIC from your home country is valid in Latvia for emergency and necessary treatment.

Emergency card info:Keep your personas kods easily accessible at all times — this is needed for all medical treatment. The eID card serves as your primary identification for healthcare. For EU visitors: present your EHIC card at emergency departments. For non-EU visitors: payment or insurance card required for non-emergency treatment.

EHIC notes:Latvia issues European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) for Latvian insured residents for use in other EU/EEA countries. Apply via your health insurer or VSAA. Latvia as destination: EU citizens with EHIC can access emergency and necessary treatment at Latvian public healthcare facilities at the same co-payment rates as Latvian residents.

Pharmacies (Aptieka)

Hours:Most pharmacies: 09:00–20:00 weekdays, 10:00–17:00 Saturdays. Some close Sundays. 24-hour pharmacies available in Riga city centre and major shopping centres. BENU Aptieka and Mēness aptieka are the two major chain pharmacies.

After-hours / emergency:Find nearest on-duty pharmacy via aptieku-saraksts.lv or the aptieka app. Some Riga pharmacies operate 24 hours: Dr.Apteka (central Riga), and pharmacies at major hospitals.

Prescription rules:Electronic prescriptions (e-recepte) are sent directly from doctor to the pharmacy system. Present your eID card or personas kods at the pharmacy — no paper prescription needed. Subsidised drugs require showing your insured status. OTC medicines (bezrecepšu zāles) available without prescription.

Available over-the-counter:

Paracetamols / acetaminophen
Ibuprofēns (ibuprofen)
Antihistamīni (antihistamines)
Aukstuma līdzekļi (cold medicine)
Vitamīns D (Vitamin D — essential for Baltic winters)
Magnijs (Magnesium)
Probiotiki (Probiotics)
Kodeīns (low dose codeine — available OTC in some preparations in Latvia)

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	€0–1.42 co-payment
GP visit (private pay)	€25–60 (private), or higher NVD out-of-pocket rate
Specialist visit	€4.27 co-payment (public, with referral). €50–150 (private)
Emergency visit	€0 (emergency, all persons). €17.50 (non-emergency visit to A&E)
MRI scan	€0 with referral (long wait). €100–300 private.
Prescription average	€0–15 (subsidised). Full price: €5–40 average
Dental check-up	€20–50 (private, adults)
Baby delivery	€7.11/day co-payment maximum (insured). Full private delivery: €800–3,000

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