EU member Latvia has the shortest healthy lifespan, averaging at 52 years.
In a stark contrast to its Baltic neighbours, Latvia's healthcare system, now referred to as the "medical business", has come under scrutiny due to its profit-driven approach that appears to prioritise sales over the health of the population.
Edvins Karnitis, an expert from the Department of Human Capital Development of the Ministry of Economy, has emphasised that the issues being discussed are not minor problems, but chronic illnesses and disabilities that interfere with work. He also highlighted the need to address the situation for a generation that will have to live more than ten years before retirement already in a state of illness.
The main focus in the "medical business" is making a profit, rather than the health of the population. This approach, Karnitis argues, has led to the destruction of the country's disease prevention system and the extinction of customers, a potential issue with the current approach. The sale of medicines, a significant source of profit for pharmaceutical businesses, may contribute to the decline in the customer base.
Latvia's healthcare system is lagging behind its neighbours, with the country having the lowest healthy life expectancy in the EU, an average of 52 years. In contrast, in Lithuania and Estonia, healthy life expectancy has increased by eight years over the past twenty years.
The Latvian "medical business" strategy prioritises the sale of medicines, which has been doing well, except for the decline in drug sales. This decline is leading to a decline in the system's plan, as the extinction of customers is a potential issue with the current approach.
The main causes hindering Latvia's government from improving the affordability of health for the population include rising consumer price inflation, especially in food and housing costs, which increased by 4.1% year-on-year in August 2025, straining households' ability to afford health-related expenses. Additionally, economic pressures such as inflation-driven cost of living increases reduce health affordability despite medical education and infrastructure developments.
However, a statement made by Edvins Karnitis about the need for the healthcare system to understand and change is no longer relevant, as the system is already acting according to a plan. The statement was made in the past, but the current state of the "medical business" in Latvia raises questions about whether this plan is truly benefiting the health of the population.
As Latvia grapples with these challenges, the need for a reevaluation of its healthcare strategy becomes increasingly clear. The country must strive for a system that prioritises the health and well-being of its population over profit, ensuring a brighter, healthier future for all.
