News

11.06.2025

The recent drone strike by Ukraine’s Security Forces on Russian strategic bomber airbases stands out as one of Ukraine’s most impressive operational victories. At the same time, this meticulously coordinated operation by Ukrainian security services highlights vulnerabilities that both we and our allies must realistically prepare for in the near future.

28.05.2025

Almost every public awareness campaign on national security emphasizes the individual responsibility of citizens to prepare for crises — such as maintaining essential supplies or assembling a 72-hour emergency kit. This requirement is logical: like other nations implementing a comprehensive defence model, Latvia must engage the entire population in resilience and civil preparedness. In practice, individuals are expected to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, and ideally seven to ten days, until assistance arrives.

28.05.2025

How can we be prepared for crisis situations without compromising our quality of life? This question is explored in the public radio programme “Kā labāk dzīvot” ("How to Live Better") featuring insights from Sandra Zilberta, Chair of the think tank Health Systems Resilience, and Andrejs Petrovs, co-founder of the same think tank and Project Manager at the Youth Section of the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation.

09.05.2025

In May of this year, the membership of the think tank “Resilience of Health Care Systems” expanded. Kristaps Jaudzems, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences at the Latvia University (LU), has joined the ranks of leading experts and industry leaders.

24.04.2025

Crisis preparedness is not panic—it’s peace of mind. In this reflection, the Chair of the Health System Resilience think tank urges individuals and communities in Latvia to treat crisis planning like preparing for a new season: calmly, wisely, and together.

22.03.2025

Crises such as hybrid threats, armed conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics, and economic turmoil frequently pose significant challenges to the protection of human rights. In these circumstances, states and the international community must ensure that fundamental freedoms and rights remain safeguarded—even when drastic measures become necessary.

17.03.2025

Latvia’s medicine shortages signal a deeper systemic risk. Raina Dūrēja-Dombrovska calls for urgent state action: strategic reserves, support for local drug producers, and a clear long-term healthcare strategy to protect patients and national security.

14.03.2025

Crises—from wars to pandemics—can disrupt critical services without warning. Liene Cipule, Director of the Emergency Medical Service, argues that Latvia must shift from passive hope to proactive planning, ensuring hospitals, pharmacies, and infrastructure are prepared to respond rapidly and effectively.

10.03.2025

Emergency Medical Service Director Liene Cipule, awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Recognition, shares frontline insights from Ukraine’s war hospitals. Her story highlights the urgent need for medical system resilience in the face of modern warfare and humanitarian crises.

27.02.2025

Medicine access is a matter of national security. In this reflection, a healthcare expert calls on the state to create structured medicine reserve systems and clear crisis protocols, while urging citizens and pharmacists to take active roles in safeguarding community health.

26.02.2025

Crises test the strength of human rights protections—especially the right to health. In this piece, a Latvian human rights expert explores how conflict, disaster, and systemic gaps challenge healthcare access, and how community cooperation and state readiness must evolve together.

06.02.2025

Latvia’s first crisis handbook for pharmacists offers practical steps to maintain pharmacy services during national emergencies — from power outages to supply chain disruptions. With training and expert guidance, pharmacies are becoming key pillars of resilience.

06.02.2025

Latvia’s first emergency preparedness handbook for pharmacies offers practical guidance on how pharmacists can ensure business continuity and serve the public during crises such as power outages, cyberattacks, or armed conflict. Learn how the sector is strengthening resilience.

17.01.2025

15–20% – tik liels zāļu cenu samazinājums vēl pagājušā gada vasarā bija Veselības ministrijas jaunās zāļu cenu reformas mērķis. Skaļā apņemšanās saglabāta joprojām. Tikmēr farmaceiti, aptiekas un lieltirgotāji no 1. janvāra ieviesto reformu sauc par haosu, paužot bažas par zāļu pieejamību, aptieku pastāvēšanu, farmaceitu darba sarežģīšanu un zāļu cenu veidošanos. Šie bija tikai daži no 15. janvāra raidījuma "Kas notiek Latvijā?" tematiem.   

10.01.2025

Healthcare reforms in Latvia have sparked critical discussions among pharmacy leaders about their impact on pharmacists, medicine prices, and patient care. Experts call for better planning, patient-centered policy, and recognition of pharmacists’ essential role in the health system.

06.01.2025

Despite appearances, Latvia's healthcare system is struggling beneath the surface. A personal story reveals deep flaws in health financing, reform planning, and political priorities—raising urgent questions about sustainability, transparency, and long-term solutions.

01.01.2025

Latvia's new drug pricing model introduces fixed wholesale mark-ups, prescription service fees, and targeted support for rural pharmacies. Learn how these changes will affect patients, pharmacies, and the overall healthcare system.

13.12.2024

The think tank Resilience of Health Care Systems unites experts from health, defense, and education to address medicine availability and sector sustainability in Latvia. As reforms take effect and EU compliance is questioned, pharmacy leaders call for balanced, people-centered policies.

28.11.2024

Crisis can strike swiftly—and healthcare is central to national security. A founder of the Resilience of Healthcare Systems think tank calls for urgent action: building effective medicine reserves, strengthening local production, and ensuring frontline readiness in Latvia.

25.10.2024

Volunteering in Ukraine revealed the realities of wartime logistics, resource scarcity, and civilian vulnerability. Drawing on these lessons, this piece calls for Latvia to strengthen civil-military cooperation, develop centralized aid databases, and train volunteers—before the next crisis begins.

23.10.2024

The newly formed Resilience of Healthcare Systems think tank brings together experts from health, defense, and education to strengthen Latvia’s healthcare resilience. With a focus on crisis preparedness, accessibility, and strategic cooperation, the initiative aims to shape a secure, people-centered system.