Urgent Changes Needed in Latvian Oncological Healthcare: A Symposium on Primary and Secondary Prevention

Strategic Insights -

A symposium on primary and secondary oncological prevention in Latvian healthcare is being organized by Daugavpils Regional Hospital and Daugavpils City Municipality in cooperation with leading medical associations. The event, scheduled for October 17, 2025, aims to improve low coverage rates of oncological screening and provide practical solutions for doctors and nurses in the Latgale region. The symposium will focus on practical ways to benefit from smart prevention, integrate screening into everyday work, and address the question of what needs to change in the country and in practices for oncological prevention to work.

Key Takeaways:

  • The symposium is intended for doctors and nurses from the Latgale region, with a focus on primary and secondary oncological prevention.
  • The event aims to improve low coverage rates of oncological screening, which pose a direct risk to early diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment of oncological diseases.
  • The state provides screening opportunities, but they do not reach every patient, often due to barriers in the family doctor's practice.
  • Dr. Inta Vaivode, Chairwoman of the Board of Daugavpils Regional Hospital, emphasizes the seriousness of the problem and the need for practical knowledge.
  • The symposium will cover prevention topics, ranging from primary to systemic perspectives, including primary prevention, secondary prevention, and systemic perspective.
  • The event includes discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Health, the National Health Service, and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
  • Doctors from the Latgale region are invited to actively participate in the symposium to gain knowledge that will directly improve screening coverage and save lives.

Statistics:

  • Low screening coverage in Latvia poses a direct risk to early diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment of oncological diseases.
  • In 2024, Latvia will have very low screening coverage.
  • Doctors and nurses from the Latgale region, particularly family doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, are directly related to early cancer detection.
  • 7.7 TIP (further education points) will be awarded to participants who attend the symposium in person.
  • The symposium aims to improve the low coverage rates of oncological screening.

Sources:

  • Daugavpils Municipality
  • Daugavpils Regional Hospital
  • Latvian Oncology Association
  • Latvian Rural Family Physicians Association
  • Latvian Urology Association
  • Latvian Gynecology and Obstetrics Association
  • Latvian Colposcopy Society
  • Latvian Cervical Cancer Education Foundation
  • https://www.daugavpils.lv/