There is currently no clarity where to find financing for the special fund for oncology as proposed by Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity), so the Health Ministry should prepare such proposals and present them to the government, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) told journalists on Tuesday after the ruling coalition meeting.
She welcomed the fact that the health minister had come up with ideas on how to address the challenges faced by oncology patients in Latvia. Abu Meri proposes to increase individual reimbursements for oncology drugs to EUR 30,000 per year instead of the current EUR 14,228 and to create a special fund for oncology. Silina stressed that she has called on state capital companies to consider donating, given the high level of public involvement.
“I know that there are companies that are evaluating the possibility of donating, because at the moment we cannot finance such support from the state budget. The donation of capital companies is solidarity with society. (…) At the moment it is not clear where and how we could finance the fund. Next year’s budget negotiations will continue, but the government has made it clear that we need to think about national security. This is a priority for this government and the coalition,” the prime minister stressed.
As reported, over the past year, 95 donations amounting to EUR 2.6 million have been requested for cancer treatment through Ziedot.lv charity platform.
Source: BNS
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