Latvia
Emergency
Nacionālais veselības dienests (Latvian National Health Service - NHS)
Tel: +371 6704 5005; 80001234 (only in Latvia)
Email: nvd@vmnvd.gov.lv
Treatment, coverage & costs
Doctors
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to state-funded healthcare if you require urgent/necessary medical care during a temporary stay in Latvia.
- State-funded healthcare is provided by healthcare providers working under contract with the Latvian National Health Service.
- You must show a valid EHIC and a passport (or other identification document) to receive state-funded healthcare. If you do not, the healthcare provider may ask you to pay the full cost.
- You need to pay a patient's fee to see a doctor. There is no charge for
- patients under 18
- pregnant women being treated in connection with their pregnancy
- certain groups of patients with particular diagnoses (tuberculosis, psychiatric diagnoses, certain infectious diseases).
- For specialised medical care, you will need a referral from a doctor, usually your general practitioner.
- If you are suffering from certain diseases, you do not need a referral to see any of the following: gynaecologist, ophthalmologist, children's surgeon, paediatrician, psychiatrist, addiction specialist, pneumonologist (lung doctor specialising in tuberculosis), dermatovenerologist (skin doctor specialising in sexually transmitted diseases), endocrinologist (for example when you have diabetes), oncologist, chemotherapy specialist, a specialist in infectious diseases (HIV / AIDS).
- The patient's fee cannot be refunded in Latvia, but you can claim reimbursement when you get home.
Dentists
- State-funded dental care is only available for children.
- Adults must pay for dental treatment, which is not refundable in Latvia.
- If dental treatment is covered in your home country, contact your national health insurance provider when you get home to claim a refund.
Hospital treatment
- If you are admitted to hospital (in an emergency), show your EHIC and passport (or other identification).
- You will be charged a patient's fee for in-patient treatment, starting from your second day of hospitalisation. There is no such fee no for:
- patients under 18
- patients hospitalised because of pregnancy or childbirth
- patients undergoing dialysis or some other treatments (e.g. for certain infectious diseases, mental illness).
- There are additional fees for:
- CT scans (computed tomography)
- MRI scans (magnetic resonance imaging).
- In addition to the patient's fee, the healthcare provider may charge a co-payment for a surgical procedure carried out in an operating theatre.
- These payments cannot be refunded in Latvia, but you can claim reimbursement when you get home.
Prescriptions
- As an EHIC holder, you are entitled to medicine on the basis of a prescription (special prescription form) issued by a doctor working under contract with the Latvian National Health Service.
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From 1 January 2018, prescriptions for drugs refunded by the state can only be issued electronically with some exceptions (for example, if the patient has informed the doctor that he/she will use the prescription in one of the EU countries, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland).
- To get prescription drugs, you need to go to a pharmacy operating under contract with the National Health Service. To buy prescription drugs, you need to show:
- your EHIC,
- your passport (or other identification)
- your prescription (if you need prescriptions drugs which are not refunded by the state).
- The state refunds 100%, 75% or 50% of the cost of prescription drugs depending on the condition diagnosed.
- The amount you pay upfront cannot be refunded in Latvia, but you can always claim reimbursement when you get home.
Ambulance
- You can use an ambulance free of charge if it has been sent by the 113 service and you present a valid EHIC and a passport (or other identification document).
Air ambulance
- The same rules apply as to other ambulance types.
Reimbursement
- Latvia operates a benefit-in-kind healthcare system, so there is no reimbursement system. You should only be charged the patient's share of the treatment.
- If you have to pay for care, contact your national health insurance provider once you return home to seek reimbursement.
Patient contribution
- Out-patient examinations by a general practitioner – between €1 and €2
- Daycare hospital – €7
- Specialist consultation fee – €4
- In-patient treatment – between €7 and €10 a day, starting on the second day of hospitalisation
- Additional diagnostic examinations – between €2 and €35 (for example for CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalograms (EEG), electrocardiagrams (EKG), X-rays, for an endoscopy)
- Patients with certain medical conditions pay reduced fees
Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy
- Chronic hemodialysis, haemodiafiltration and peritoneal dialysis are free of charge with a referral from a specialist.
- Oxygen therapy expenses are not covered by the National Health Service.
- Chemotherapy is free of charge with a referral from an oncologist.
How do I apply for an EHIC?
- Explanation about how to apply for an EHIC (in English)
- Explanation about how to apply for an EHIC (in Latvian)
Doctors & hospitals accepting the EHIC
- Urgent medical aid units
- In-patient care (in Latvian only)
- Dental care providers (in Latvian only)
Loss of card
Contacts for holders of EHICs issued in Latvia
Nacionālais veselības dienests (Latvian National Health Service)
Tel: +371 6704 5005
Email: nvd@vmnvd.gov.lv