🇱🇻 Latvia Healthcare Guide
Riga's Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital is Latvia's best-equipped facility and treats international patients regularly. EHIC covers EU visitors for emergency care, but Latvian pharmacies are strict about prescriptions — many medications available over the counter elsewhere in the EU require a local prescription here, so bringing enough of your regular medications to last your stay is the simplest approach.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 112
- Healthcare system: universal-public
- Average GP visit: $25 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: Yes
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
Latvia’s public healthcare provides EHIC coverage at some of Europe’s lowest co-payments (€3–5 per GP visit). Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital in Riga is the country’s main facility, with a nationally recognised cardiac surgery programme. Riga’s growing medical tourism sector means private clinics (Premium Medical, ARS Medical Centre) are geared toward international patients with English-speaking staff and online booking.
Lowest co-payments in Europe
EHIC co-payments of €3–5 per visit are among the lowest on the continent, making the public system affordable even for non-emergency care.
Medical tourism infrastructure
Riga’s private clinics are set up for international patients, with English-speaking staff and direct online booking.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Latvian pharmacies (aptieka) carry standard European medications at prices well below Western Europe. Latvia’s Pharmacy Law permits pharmacists to substitute generic equivalents proactively, so having your medication list with both brand and generic names lets them match the most affordable available option.
Proactive generic substitution
Latvian pharmacists can proactively substitute generics. Bringing both your brand name and the generic helps them find the best-value match.
Tips for travellers
Pauls Stradins Hospital’s cardiac surgery programme is recognised across the Baltics, and its oncology and neurology departments also serve as national referral centres. Private clinics like ARS Medical Centre book specialist appointments within days without referral. Having your treatment history accessible in English or Latvian helps specialists at either the public or private system continue your care without duplicating diagnostics.
Stradins cardiac programme
Pauls Stradins has a nationally recognised cardiac surgery and cardiology programme, making Riga a capable destination for cardiac follow-up.