Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS), using the European Union Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, launched a project “Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital” for infectious diseases and the building of the lung health complex, which provides for the construction and development of the hospital infrastructure of nearly EUR 100 million.
The hospital will build a new medical complex for the establishment and operation of an infectious disease and lung health center, as well as developed daily hospital services that will allow them to be concentrated in the Hipokrāta Street complex, creating an Infectious Disease and Lung Health Services Center. The new Medical complex provides for the deployment of services to be provided with different profiles, which will form part of the single Center for Ambulatory Services, which will also be developed through the existing infrastructure of the stationary "Gaiļezers", ensuring the availability of post-existing services.
Aleksejs Visnakovs, acting as chairman of the board of RACUS: “Our hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic was the largest and main medical treatment facility, treating 13 024 Covid-19 infectious patients from all over Latvia. In five departments of the hospital every day more than 1,200 hospital employees were involved in the fight over the health and life of these people. Now, thanks to the resources of the Recovery Fund and government support, we have achieved a truly unique and one-of-a-kind opportunity for the development of infrastructure - concentrating medical resources and the Laboratory Service in one place – Hipokrāta Street complex and creating a new, modern “Infection Diseases and Lung Health Center”. It will accommodate the currently geographically diverse sections of the “Latvian Infectology Center” and “Tuberkulozes and Lung Desease Center”, which would require much higher funds and investments when upgrading. I am convinced that this project will pay off in the long run. In addition, we have started work to attract new doctors, nurses and laboratory specialists to the new center, in close cooperation with RSU and LU residents and medical colleges. They will also be able to work with experienced workers in a modern environment that meets the best standards of Europe and the world after 3 years. But the biggest winner in realizing this ambitious project will undeniably be our patients".
Zane Petre, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Latvia: “The pandemic further highlighted the need for reforms and investments in the health sector. It is important to provide a health system that is not only strong in it’s economic, social and institutional resilience but also ready to respond to crisis situations. I am very pleased that the Recovery and Stability Plan provides investments of EUR 149 500 000 million for the strengthening of hospitals and healthcare infrastructure in Latvia. The investment will improve infrastructure at three university hospitals, including Riga East Clinical University Hospital and seven regional hospitals. This is a significant contribution to strengthening Latvia's healthcare system."
The project is scheduled to be carried out by June 2026. It’s total cost is EUR 99 972 040, of which EUR 82 621 521 is financed by the European Recovery Fund and the co-financing of the national budget EUR 14 851 218. The construction project for Infectious diseases and the lung health complex is being carried out in accordance with the Public Health Guidelines for 2021-2027.
It has already been reported that a total of EUR 181 500 000.00 has been allocated to the healthcare sector under the European Union Recovery and Stability Plan to develop patient-centred integrated and comprehensive healthcare, increase service efficiency and strengthen the provision of outpatient services.
The Recovery Fund is a new EU budget programme originally established as a coordinated EU response to the crisis caused by Covid-19 to mitigate it’s long-term social and economic impact. The Recovery Fund aims to support reforms and investment to ensure the transition of EU Member States to the green and digital economy.
RAKUS is the largest multi-profile medical institution in Latvia, which provides comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for patients, as well as research work, developing innovation, providing training for young specialists and implementing measures to educate the public and promote health.
