Within the framework of the project co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus “attraction and retention measures for medical practitioners”, 294 medical practitioners have been attracted to the public health sector so far.
On the basis of information provided by medical treatment institutions, at least 840 vacancies have been applied for the provision of State-paid services within the framework of the project. This figure reflects only the needs of institutions involved in the project, as the actual shortage of medical practitioners is significantly higher, which once again underscores the challenges of human resources in the sector.
Since 23 August 2024, the Ministry of Health has been implementing a project co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus “measures for attracting and maintaining medical practitioners”, which provides for one-off financial support for doctors, nurses and other specialists entering or resuming work in the public sector. Priority has been given to hospitals as well as to general practitioners' practices, taking into account the availability of family doctors in the regions and the proportion of family doctors of retirement age.
Specialists may receive support if the vacancy has been registered in the resources information system of fixed medical treatment institutions (SAIRIS) and is later included in the Human resources attraction Plan *.
The shortage of medical practitioners affects not only Latvia, but also many other countries in Europe and the world – this is a tendency promoted both by the ageing of medical specialists and by the insufficient entry of young professionals into the sector, especially in the state and local government sector. This is why it is particularly important to collect and analyse vacancy data on a regular basis in order to see clearly where the lack of human resources is most critical and where funding needs to be channelled first. The challenge for the sector is not only attracting employees, but also keeping them in the long term,” Christine Klavina, head of the Human resources Development Division of the Health Ministry industry, marks the challenges.
Almost 300 medical practitioners have been involved in the public sector since the start of the project – 84 doctors (including 44 new family doctors), 93 nurses, 76 assistant nurses, 12 assistant doctors, as well as a certified physiotherapist and midwife. 27 family doctors in retirement have also passed on their practices to new doctors. In total, EUR 3.26 million has been granted in compensation. When receiving support, specialists must work in the public sector for a certain period of time. In order to qualify for aid, the following conditions must be fulfilled:
the medical treatment institution must have a contract with the national Health Service;
the vacancy must be registered AS DISINTEGRATING;
a general practitioner of retirement age who transmits the practice, knowledge and experience to the new doctor;
on 23 August 2023, the medical practitioner was not employed in the relevant profession in the public sector – the date when the relevant Cabinet regulations entered into force .
The total eligible funding of the European Social Fund Plus project “attraction and retention measures for medical practitioners” is EUR 6.69 million, of which the State budget funding – EUR 1 million. The human resources recruitment plan currently includes 840 vacancies - 330 doctor specialist vacancies, 324 nurse vacancies, 142 nurse assistants and 3 midwife vacancies in various medical treatment institutions throughout Latvia.
Leveraging funding from EU funds is one of the instruments for implementing human resources policy. The Health workforce Development Strategy 2025-2029 provides for complex measures in three strategic directions: planning – identification of human resource needs and planning of accommodation; education – strengthening of training and training opportunities for young specialists; working environment – competitive remuneration and working conditions. State-paid health care services are currently provided to residents by around 15.7 thousand medical treatment and treatment support persons.
More about the project: attraction and retention measures for medical practitioners | talakizglitiba.lv
* Information is collected three times within the calendar year, data BROKEN down for April 1, August 1 and November 1 of the calendar year
