On 28 October, guests and staff at Children’s Clinical University Hospital (Children’s Hospital) had the opportunity to visit the renovated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The reconstruction enables the hospital to fully implement a patient- and family-centred approach to treatment and care. The infrastructure and technological improvements were made possible with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Neonatology Clinic at Children’s Hospital treats and cares for approximately 800 newborns each year, around 300 of whom are initially admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Extremely premature babies with a birth weight of up to 1,500 grams require particularly specialised care and an appropriate environment. In 2025, the hospital cared for 83 such infants, while 69 had already been admitted by 1 October 2026.
“The total investment in the reconstruction of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit exceeds €2.3 million. However, the true value of this investment cannot be measured solely in euros or renovated square metres. It is reflected in children’s health, families’ sense of security and the ability of medical professionals to work in the best possible conditions,” said Māris Kučinskis, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Latvia.
“Every child who comes into the world represents hope for their family and for Latvia. It is therefore important not only to provide newborns with high-quality treatment, but also to create an environment where parents can stay close to their babies when they need help the most, particularly when they are born prematurely or are critically ill. At the same time, we must develop an integrated paediatric healthcare system throughout Latvia, ensuring that every newborn receives the necessary care in a timely manner, regardless of where they are born. Children’s Hospital plays an important role in developing this system, and the Ministry of Health will continue working to improve the quality of maternity and newborn care. Continuous learning and cooperation, both nationally and internationally, are also essential. The expertise of the hospital’s neonatologists and the opportunity to compare treatment outcomes with colleagues in other countries help us assess the quality of care and identify areas for improvement,” emphasised Līga Āboliņa, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia.
Valters Bolevics, Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, also addressed the audience: “My heartfelt thanks go to the medical professionals and all hospital staff for developing Children’s Hospital and raising the standard of healthcare in Latvia. Your experience and knowledge not only provide treatment but also offer comfort and reassurance at times when parents feel that the ground is shifting beneath their feet. You help protect what is most precious to us – our children and their future.”
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit began operating in 2009. Before that, newborns requiring intensive care were treated alongside older children. As understanding of the specific needs of the youngest patients evolved, it became clear that they required specialised care provided by neonatologists. In 2011, the unit moved into dedicated premises at the same location, separate from the intensive care facilities for children of other age groups.
“Every improvement to hospital premises must have a clear purpose: what will it mean for the child and their family? The renovation of this unit is rooted in a change in our approach to care, and the new facilities allow us to put that approach fully into practice. Parents are increasingly becoming our partners in caring for their babies. Their involvement helps premature infants grow and develop, enabling them to go home sooner. This is the real value of these changes: better treatment outcomes for children and a safer, more reassuring experience for the whole family. It is also important that the time spent in hospital helps parents gain confidence in their ability to care for their baby when the long-awaited day of going home arrives,” said Valts Ābols, Chair of the Board of Children’s Hospital.
The unit’s equipment has also been enhanced with the support of donations from businesses and members of the public.
“Over the past 15 years, the approach to caring for children, particularly extremely premature and critically ill newborns, has changed considerably at Children’s Hospital. Although every effort was made to enable parents to spend time with their newborns, our previous facilities lacked sufficient privacy and space. Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit spend a long time in hospital with their parents. That is why it is so important to provide an environment that supports the babies’ growth and recovery while allowing parents to stay close and participate in important decisions together with the medical team,” explained Kristīne Rasnača, Head of the Neonatology Clinic at Children’s Hospital.
“We follow the development of Children’s Hospital with pride and confidence in its team. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is particularly important for families whose babies need medical assistance from the very first days of life. More than €2 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund has been allocated to the unit’s renovation. I am truly pleased that this project strengthens paediatric healthcare in Latvia and helps families feel safer,” said Andris Kužnieks, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia.
Modern infrastructure, information technology and advanced medical equipment are essential for ensuring high-quality treatment and care, while improving the well-being of patients, their families and hospital staff.
The project “Development of Infrastructure to Promote Patient Orientation and Clinical Quality at the State Ltd. Children’s Clinical University Hospital” was implemented from the third quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2026. In addition to the reconstruction of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the project also included the renovation of the building housing the Sports Medicine Centre.
The total project cost was €3,155,455, of which 85% was financed by the ERDF. The reconstruction of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit accounted for €2,360,561, including €2,006,477 in ERDF funding.
