GPs who go to work in the regions can receive financial support from European Union funds. Cash compensation can be received by general practitioners who have not yet worked outside Riga, as well as general practitioners of retirement age who transfer practice and new general practitioners who take it over while continuing to care for patients. The Ministry of Health implements such support in order to additionally motivate specialists to work outside Riga, ensuring health care and access to specialists for the population.
So far, more than half a million – 551,744 euros – have been paid in cash compensations to general practitioners outside Riga in the project. 15 GPs have received financial support, including those who have opened a new practice in the regions, while another 13 GPs of retirement age in various parts of Latvia have transferred their practice to a new specialist.
The Ministry of Health continues to implement the European Social Fund project “Improving the availability of medical and treatment support persons to residents outside Riga” with the aim of improving access to state-paid services for residents in priority health areas – cardiovascular, oncology, perinatal and neonatal and mental health. health.
The project identifies medical practitioners who can claim compensation. Doctors, nurses, medical assistants, dentists, etc. may receive compensation for work in the region (and additional compensation for each family member); compensation for maintenance costs; the compensation is paid to the GP at retirement age who transfers the traineeship and to the new GP who takes over.
In order to ensure further care of patients, most family doctors of retirement age have transferred the practice to the new specialist in Kurzeme – a total of 6, including Liepāja, Kuldīga, Skrunda, Roja. The practices of family doctors have also been taken over in the Riga region, Zemgale, Vidzeme and Latgale. A total of 13 practices have been taken over in the project. Both doctors receive compensation – on average 9231 euros were paid for the transfer of the practice, but for the new family doctor on average 13 899 euros. The transfer of the internship lasts 3 months, training the young family doctor on the organization of the internship work, care of the internship-specific patients, manipulations to be performed in the internship, cancer screening program, etc.
Fifteen GPs have gone to work in the regions, receiving financial support for the provision of state-paid services and patient care in the regions, including doctors who have opened new practices. Most GPs were supported in Kurzeme – 5, Vidzeme – 3 and Riga region – 5, as well as in Zemgale – 1 and Latgale – 1.
The average amount of compensation granted to all GPs in the project currently reaches 11,034 euros. In order to attract specialists to the regions, the acceptance of applications in the project continues, including general practitioners can apply for and receive monetary compensation if they care for patients outside Riga, providing state-paid health care services.
European Social Fund project “Improving the availability of medical and treatment support staff outside Riga” No. 9.2.5.0/17/I/001 is co-financed within the framework of the Operational Program “Growth and Employment” 9.2.5. Specific support objective “Improve access to medical treatment and medical support for persons providing services in priority health areas for residents living outside Riga”.
The project funding is 10 million euros, including 85% European Social Fund funding – 8.5 million euros and 15% state budget funding – 1.5 million euros. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Health. The selection period for compensation applicants lasts from May 2018 to 31 July 2023 (or until the acquisition of available funding, but not longer than until 31 July 2023).
More about applying for refunds: http://talakizglitiba.lv/projekti/kompensacijas-arstniecibas-personam-par-darbu-regionos
ESF project “Improving the availability of medical treatment and support persons outside Riga” No. 9.2.5.0/17/I/001
–
