Delayed decision to pay for liquid food for incurable patients; promises home delivery from mid – July / Article / LSM.lv

Sanita Janka, a representative of the Ministry of Health (MoE), told the Latvian Radio program “Afternoon” that the way forward for regulatory enactments on the payment of liquid food to incurable patients has been delayed. She stressed that the ministry is currently looking for a solution to pay for liquid food from July 1.

IN SHORT:

• From July 1, all palliative care patients were expected to start paying for liquid food.
• The MoD explains that the adoption of regulatory enactments has been delayed, but is looking for a solution so that payment can be made from 1 July.
• Liquid special food for patients will start to take home RAKUS in two weeks.
• There are a number of issues that remain unresolved in palliative care.

Latvian Television found out that patients will start receiving liquid special foods in two weeks. It is expected that Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) will be responsible for this at least initially.

“Of course there is such a team. The disease does not come the same way, walking down the path, because the patient goes to the hospital, where he is diagnosed with his problems. It can not be alone a family doctor who has not seen the patient in the hospital care director Inese Budzila.

The team of specialists will decide which food is the most suitable for the patient and are ready to deliver it to the door of the house or even the apartment.

“This food will be delivered to patients at home. They will not have to pick up themselves. Purchases have already been made to have these food mixtures for each disease, in each case doctors will find what he needs. Those patients who received food with the help of” Ziedot.lv ” , will also be able to receive this service, “said Janka.

Doctors will also train other professionals and families on how to use food properly, free of charge. There will be many other benefits.

“The biggest benefit is that patients will no longer have to pay for it, and they will be able to receive home care services, laboratory services, everything else,” Janka pointed out.

Latvijas Radio Janka also said that the Ministry of Health is working on a plan to improve terminally ill patients or palliative care in Latvia. Not only health but also other aspects are taken into account.

At the same time, the Chairman of the Social and Labor Affairs Committee of the Saeima Andris Skride (“For Development / For”) pointed out that the deputies have also assigned other tasks. For example, the Ministry of Welfare has been tasked with creating a “green corridor” to provide disability to palliative care patients already in hospital. Skride stressed that this has not been done, so the ministry will continue to ask for it.

Rūta Dimanta, the head of the organization “Ziedot.lv”, said that currently liquid catering is provided from the campaign “Give five!” donated money. 30% of the money was spent and 300 people were helped. According to Diamond, the money is enough for another year and a half to help incurable people. At the same time, the people of “Ziedot.lv” also turn for help to, for example, buy hygiene products for the terminally ill, who are often unable to get out of bed.

Diamond emphasized that the cost of palliative care patient care reaches 1,000 euros per month, which is difficult to pay because the person has lost his or her ability to work. “Ziedot.lv” will continue to help with food, as well as hygiene products and payment for care services. However, Diamond believes that such important things should not be left on the shoulders of donors. Diamond has previously said that he would like to see such a pace in the decisions on Covid-19 in arranging palliative care.

CONTEXT:

Problems in the availability of palliative care in Latvia were also raised in the Latvian Radio project “In the Zone of Despair”. The charity marathon “Give Five 2019” was also dedicated to this topic, during which 438,197 euros were collected in donations at the end of last year, reaching the absolute record “Give Five!” history. Donations provide a complete diet for terminally ill people who can no longer eat on their own, as well as other palliative care support therapies. Following these projects, politicians decided that the state would still provide meals for palliative care patients. It was due to start on 1 July.

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