LATVIA — At the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS), using the funds of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, the project “Construction of the Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Health Corps of SIA “Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital”” has been started, which provides for the construction and development of the hospital’s infrastructure in the amount of almost 100 million euros .
A new medical building will be built for the hospital for the creation and operation of the Infectious Diseases and Lung Health Center, as well as developed day inpatient services, which will allow them to be concentrated in the Hipokráta Street complex, forming the Center for Infectious Diseases and Lung Health Services. Outpatient services of various profiles are planned to be located in the new treatment building, which will form part of the unified Outpatient Services Center, which will be developed using the existing infrastructure of Gaiļezers inpatient facility, ensuring the availability of subsequent services.
Acting Chairman of the Board of RAKUS, Aleksej Vishnakovs:
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, our hospital was the largest and main medical institution where 13,024 patients with Covid-19 infection from all over Latvia were treated. More than 1,200 hospital employees were involved in the fight for the health and lives of these people every day in five hospital wards. Now, thanks to the funds of the Recovery Fund and the support of the government, we have obtained a truly unique and one-time opportunity for infrastructure development – to concentrate treatment resources and the Laboratory service in one place – in the Hipokráta Street complex and create a new, modern “Center for Infectious Diseases and Lung Health”. It will house the departments of “Latvian Infectious Diseases Center” and “Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Center”, which are currently located at geographically different addresses, and their modernization would require much larger funds and investments. I am sure that this project will pay off in the long run. In addition, we have started work to attract young doctors, nurses and laboratory specialists to the new center, in close cooperation with RSU and LU residencies and medical colleges. They too, together with experienced employees, will be able to work in a modern environment that meets the best European and world standards after 3 years. But the biggest beneficiary of this ambitious project will undeniably be our patients”.
Zane Petre, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia:
“The pandemic further highlighted the need for reform and investment in the healthcare sector. It is important to ensure a health care system that is not only strong in its economic, social and institutional resilience, but is also ready to react in crisis situations. I am very pleased that within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, investments in the amount of 149,500,000 million euros are planned for the strengthening of hospital and health care infrastructure in Latvia. Investments will improve the infrastructure in three university hospitals, including Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital and seven regional hospitals. This is a significant investment to strengthen Latvia’s health care system.”
The project is planned to be implemented by June 2026. Its total cost is EUR 99,972,040, of which EUR 82,621,521 is financed by the European Recovery Fund, and EUR 14,851,218 is co-financed by the state budget. The RAKUS infectious diseases and lung health corps construction project is implemented in accordance with the Public Health Guidelines 2021-2027. for the year.
It has already been reported that a total of EUR 181,500,000.00 has been allocated to the healthcare sector as part of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Plan to develop patient-centered integrated and comprehensive healthcare, increase the efficiency of services and strengthen the provision of outpatient services.
The Recovery Fund is a new EU budget program that was originally created as a coordinated EU response to the Covid-19 crisis to mitigate its long-term social and economic impact. The purpose of the recovery fund is to support reforms and make investments to ensure the transition of EU member states to a green and digital economy.
RAKUS is the largest multi-profile medical institution in Latvia, which provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for patients, as well as carries out scientific research work, develops innovations, provides training for young specialists and implements measures for public education and health promotion.
