“Healthcare is a fundamental right, and one of our key responsibilities is to ensure an accessible, effective, and resilient healthcare system. The Baltic States face similar challenges in the field of healthcare, and therefore, solutions must be sought through closer regional cooperation — particularly in joint medical procurement and the integration of cross-border healthcare,” stressed Deputy Speaker of the Saeima and Chair of the Baltic Assembly Committee on Health, Welfare and Family, Antoņina Ņenaševa, addressing participants at the committee meeting on Friday, 28 March, in the Estonian capital, Tallinn.
The Deputy Speaker of the Saeima noted that over more than a decade, the joint medicines procurement agreement between the Baltic States has helped to reduce costs and improve access to essential medicines. “By expanding this initiative, we can strengthen our healthcare reserves and ensure readiness for future challenges,” stated A. Ņenaševa, also highlighting the need to ensure cross-border data exchange and interoperability.
“By promoting cross-border data exchange, we can open the door to faster diagnoses, better treatment, and stronger public health,” she said, adding that data sharing also strengthens medical research, enabling the development of new treatment methods and improvements in personalised medicine, as well as disease prevention strategies. “In this way, we can also improve efficiency and ensure fairer and more inclusive access to healthcare services for all Baltic residents,” A. Ņenaševa emphasised.
Among the current priorities, the Deputy Speaker drew attention to the development of strategic medical reserves. “Recent crises have clearly shown how essential preparedness is. A well-coordinated system of reserves will strengthen our resilience and ensure that our citizens have access to critically important medicines and medical supplies in emergency situations,” stated A. Ņenaševa.
The Baltic Assembly Committee on Health, Welfare and Family Affairs convened today in Tallinn to discuss ways to improve healthcare through data exchange among the Baltic States, and to hear from experts in the field regarding Baltic cooperation in joint medical procurement and the development of healthcare reserves. Alongside the Deputy Speaker, the meeting was also attended by the President of the Baltic Assembly and Head of the Latvian Delegation, Jānis Vucāns.
Saeima Press Service