Not required to use Russian in the treatment process. Abu Meri warns

Previously, the Minister of Health discussed salaries, waiting lists for examination and treatment, reforms in medical institutions and other insignificant issues with doctors. Now, the Minister has devoted his meetings with hospital management to the main problem in the industry – language. All young doctors and medical students have a poor command of Russian or do not know it at all and because of this, they are allegedly subjected to ridicule and psychological pressure from experienced doctors who do speak Russian. Young doctors also have difficulties communicating with patients who do not speak Latvian well enough.

What to do? Health Minister Hossam Abu Meri reminded at today’s meeting that, firstly, the Seimas has just adopted amendments to the Law on the Protection of Patients’ Rights and now it is the patient’s responsibility to provide translation. And secondly, the Ministry of Health will soon submit amendments to the Law on Medical Activity to the Seimas, which are intended to strengthen the role of the state language in medical institutions.

The head of the Ministry of Health emphasized that no law or regulatory act obliges one to know and use the Russian language in medical activities. At the same time, it follows from the decisions of the Constitutional Court that all residents of Latvia are obliged to know and use the state language.