The amount requested for cybersecurity raises surprise in the Saeima's list of urgent priorities

Members of the joint meeting of the Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Sustainable Development, and the Social and Labor Affairs Committee's Public Health Subcommittee were surprised today that the amount requested by the Ministry of Health (VM) for high-priority needs requiring additional funding next year is the largest sum - 32.95 million euros - requested for cybersecurity.

In total, the ministry has identified a need of 77.84 million euros for these measures, informed Boris Kņigins, Deputy State Secretary for Financial Issues at VM, during the meeting.

The Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee, Uģis Mitrevics (NA), expressed surprise that the amount indicated for cybersecurity exceeds both the funding deficit for reimbursable medications and the funding requested for vaccination of at-risk groups. Representatives from the sector, including the Latvian Rural Family Doctors Association and the Latvian Health and Social Care Workers' Trade Union, called during the discussion for as many resources as possible to be directed towards patient care and to strengthen existing healthcare resources, including in the regions.

Kņigins explained that the amount needed for cybersecurity is intended for the needs of the primary registers. In the summary of high-priority measures by VM, alongside cybersecurity, the next indicated highest amount - 23 million euros - is needed for fulfilling obligations for healthcare services received in other EU and European Economic Area member states under the EU social security system.

Meanwhile, for covering the funding deficit for reimbursable medications, the initial amount indicated in next year's priorities is 17.54 million euros. The ministry explained in the presentation that this is a forecast prepared at the time of needs assessment, taking into account the previous year's performance. Based on the actual performance of 2026, the need for additional funding to cover the deficit of the reimbursable medicines system has increased.