Residents of Latvia are increasingly going to give birth in Estonia

In order to receive emergency medical treatment in another EU country, patients are required to present the European Health Insurance Card (EKMS)


The trend that people are increasingly shaky border to seek treatment at the hospital Valga, was spotted a couple of years ago. And recently in Valga rushed and Latvian mothers, the newspaper Diena. Thus, if in 2008, was born in Valga only two citizens of Latvia, in 2012 - the 146.



During the crisis in the hospital rolls have ceased to provide emergency assistance, emergency room was only a few beds and an outpatient unit. Several years earlier, in Valka closed the maternity ward, and his manager Eric Porridge settled in Valga hospital.

"It is better to run with a baby carriage in the Estonian hospital than an hour to go before Valmiera," - said the young mother, and it was supported by other residents of Valka. In the neighboring country they go to an emergency, when ill themselves or children.


Emergency help and is taking delivery, so the service fee does not expose patients to Estonia and Latvia. Last year in Valga birth 146 Latvian women that are not happy with the Latvian health. In Estonia, the labor cost an average of 737 euros (about 510 lats), Latvia - from 181 lats to 347 lats (a caesarean section).

In order to receive emergency medical treatment in another EU country, patients are required to present the European Health Insurance Card (EKMS). Services provided from the budget of Latvia pays according to foreign rates. Patients, in some cases, you need only to pay extra. Residents rolls are well aware that such EKMS and how to draw.

Hospital in Valga was built ten years ago, and Valga and Valka agreed that hospitals of the two cities will be offered a variety of services. But not at first Latvian women to give birth in Valga, because I do not know that if they give birth in Estonia, do pay for it should not, as well as fear of the language barrier. Now bear in Valga come even from Riga.

Chief physician of the hospital Andres Sell profiles listed hospital surgery, internality medicine, pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics. In the Estonian hospital employs three Latvian doctor (one of them a gynecologist), several nurses and orderlies.

Latvian patients come to the hospital or because of Valga prenatal pain or acute injuries - broken legs or arms, large wounds, or due to high blood pressure. As a rule, they are brought by relatives or they come to themselves, said Sell. Ambulance teams from Latvia deliver patients to Latvian hospitals, mainly in Valmiera and in Valga - only in an emergency.

And if the number of acute patients from Latvia almost unchanged, the number of births in Latvia Valga added. "The number of births is increasing. We have a good reputation, and the information spreads from patient to patient," - said Sell.

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