Addiction specialist in Latviano referral, no co-payment, where to go

An addiction specialist, also called an addiction psychiatrist, diagnoses and treats addictive disorders. Outpatient care covers consultations, diagnosis, treatment planning and treatment without hospital admission.

• Alcohol dependence and harmful use
• Dependence on narcotic and psychotropic substances
• Dependence on toxic substances
• Tobacco dependence
• Gambling addiction
• Addiction related to new technologies

The National Centre for Mental Health states that outpatient addiction care includes consultations not only for the patient but, where needed, for their relatives and people affected by co-dependence, along with support group work and recovery programmes.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at RSU or the University of Latvia.
• Residency in addiction medicine. Programme page: RSU residency programme.
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points plus a 48.38 EUR fee.
• Entry in the practitioners register must be renewed every 5 years.

The National Centre for Mental Health states that confidentiality is maintained in both outpatient and inpatient treatment, and that information about the course of treatment and medical history is not given to third parties, except in cases set out in the Patients' Rights Law and on the basis of the Medical Treatment Law and personal data protection rules.

Separately from treatment, certificates, addiction specialist opinions and early health assessment commission conclusions for drivers and firearms holders can be obtained at Tvaika iela 2 for a fee. These are separate services, not part of treatment.

• The consultation assesses general health, takes the history and symptoms, identifies the condition and establishes a diagnosis.
• The most suitable treatment method is then chosen, with further appointments, ongoing or preventive monitoring, and psychologist sessions arranged as needed.
• The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states that no referral is required, but an e-referral from the family doctor is desirable, since it helps assess how urgently the consultation is needed.
• A relative can attend too, since consultations are available to people affected by co-dependence.
• If the Minnesota programme is planned, a consultation with the programme's specialists, by phone or in person, is required before treatment starts.

The National Centre for Mental Health states that since 1 January 2025, people being treated for dependence on alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances do not pay the four euro outpatient co-payment or the seven euro per day inpatient co-payment.

• Outpatient addiction consultationPrice EUR: 0.00Source: NPVC
• Inpatient treatment, including the Minnesota programmePrice EUR: 0.00Source: NPVC
• Long-term methadone pharmacotherapyPrice EUR: state-fundedSource: NPVC
• Long-term buprenorphine pharmacotherapyPrice EUR: paid serviceSource: NPVC
• Certificates and opinions for drivers and firearms holdersPrice EUR: paid serviceSource: NPVC

Ģintermuiža Hospital states that until 31 December 2024 the patient co-payment for the Minnesota programme was 7.00 EUR per bed day, amounting to 196.00 EUR for the 28-day programme, and that from 1 January 2025 patients with addiction are exempt from the co-payment.

The field is also represented by the Latvian Psychiatric Association, registration number 40008172347.

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association. The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate, while addiction prevention nationally is coordinated by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

If you have doubts about the quality of care, raise them first with the provider's management. If that does not resolve it, a written submission goes to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement, and is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site.