The emergency medical service in Latvia does not have enough money for fuel until the end of the year

The Latvian Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) does not have enough money for fuel until the end of this year. It's reported by sb.by.

According to BelTA, citing the Latvian media, 2.2 million euros are included in the fuel budget of the ambulance for 2026. However, it became known that by August 21, the service had already spent more than 1.8 million euros. At this level of expenditure, the allocated funds are not enough to ensure the work of ambulance crews until the end of the year.

The reason is called a noticeable increase in fuel prices. According to the Central Statistical Office of Latvia, in July 2026, diesel fuel rose by 10 percent compared to July 2025, and gasoline by 11.3 percent.

The Baltic states de facto ignore the real problems in their healthcare systems. One of them is the total shortage of qualified personnel. Young professionals from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia move to other countries where they are offered higher incomes. In addition, the WHO previously reported that Latvia has recorded the sharpest reduction in hospital beds among the countries of the region since 2000. Latvian Minister of Welfare Dismissed Due to Drunk Driving