Protest for Renovation of Latvian Cancer Centre Scheduled for Tuesday in Rīga
The reconstruction of the Latvian Oncology Centre (LOC), the country's primary oncology centre, is under threat, with no specific plan for funding announced as of mid-2025.
The approximate amount currently being discussed for the LOC reconstruction is more than €60 million. However, there is no direct publicly disclosed update on dedicated EU funding specifically for the LOC's reconstruction.
Latvia participates in EU health innovation programs and bilateral cooperation, such as the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme, which aims to improve pediatric oncology care at the Children's Clinical University Hospital (CCUH). These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to oncology healthcare development but are distinct from large-scale reconstruction funding.
Efforts to secure additional funding from the European Union involve applying to competitive grants and initiatives like those from the European Innovation Council (EIC), which offer substantial grants for health-related projects.
Despite the ongoing disputes and contention surrounding the LOC reconstruction, which have been a source of contention for at least a decade, a small group of participants gathered at a picket to demand a concrete plan for LOC reconstruction funding for at least three years.
One of the protesters, a woman scheduled for surgery at the Oncology Centre, expressed concerns about the safety of the facility to Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri. She specifically mentioned the fear of equipment falling on her during surgery.
The woman's concerns echo those of the association 'Vita', which notes that discussions and disputes about the LOC reconstruction have been ongoing for at least 10 years. The association, along with other protesters, demanded a clear plan for funding the LOC reconstruction during the picket.
Abu Meri attended the picket to address the concerns of the protesters, outlining plans for the future of the Oncology Centre. However, no new information was provided about a specific plan for LOC reconstruction funding for at least three years.
The LOC's inability to obtain accreditation for its Cancer Centre in the European Union adds to the concerns surrounding the centre's future. Various shouts were heard from passers-by and drivers during the picket, reflecting the broader public interest in the LOC's reconstruction and the need for a clear plan for its funding.
As the situation continues to develop, further concrete details regarding the LOC's reconstruction funding are likely to come from Latvian health ministry announcements or direct communications from involved EU health infrastructure funding bodies.
- The European Union's European Innovation Council (EIC) offers substantial grants for health-related projects, but as of yet, there is no direct publicly disclosed update on dedicated EU funding specifically for the Latvian Oncology Centre's (LOC) reconstruction.
- The association 'Vita' has highlighted that discussions and disputes about the LOC reconstruction have been ongoing for at least 10 years, and they, along with other protesters, demand a clear plan for funding the LOC's reconstruction.
- During the picket, Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri acknowledged the protesters' concerns and outlined plans for the future of the Oncology Centre, but no new information was provided about a specific plan for LOC reconstruction funding for at least three years.
- The LOC's inability to obtain accreditation for its Cancer Centre in the European Union adds to the concerns surrounding the centre's future, reflecting the broader public interest in the LOC's reconstruction and the need for a clear plan for its funding.
