Cardiologist in Latviawhere to get treatment, how to verify certification, what this doctor does

A cardiologist diagnoses and treats heart and vascular disease in adults. They match symptoms against test results, select drug treatment, and decide whether an invasive procedure or surgery is needed. In Latvia the cardiologist is a secondary-level specialist seen on referral.

• High blood pressure and its complications
• Coronary artery disease, angina, and care after a heart attack
• Heart failure
• Rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation
• Valve disease and adult congenital heart disease
• Raised cholesterol and cardiovascular risk assessment

The family doctor is enough while blood pressure and cholesterol are controlled and there are no symptoms. A cardiologist is needed when chest pain on exertion, breathlessness, fainting or rhythm problems appear, or when treatment stops working.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at RSU or the University of Latvia.
• Residency in cardiology. RSU states that four years cover the knowledge and practical skills required under Cabinet Regulation No. 268 and European Union recommendations. Programme page: RSU residency programme.
• The programme ends with a research paper that is written and defended, plus a theory examination.
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points, at least 60 per cent tied to the base specialty, plus a 48.38 EUR fee.
• Entry in the practitioners register must be renewed every 5 years.

• Languages. Consultations run in Latvian, and many cardiologists also work in Russian. Confirm English when booking.
• Experience. Price lists set out department head, dr. med. or professor consultations separately, at a higher fee.
• Tests on site. If an echo, Holter monitoring or stress test is likely, a provider that can do them at the same visit saves time.
• Procedures. Invasive procedures and ablation happen only in hospitals with the relevant laboratory, so a private consultation often ends in a hospital referral.
• Second opinion. Patients may freely choose the doctor and institution. With a valid referral, a state-funded consultation can be taken at any provider delivering that service from state funds.

• Before the visit it helps to have an ECG and blood tests done: full blood count, cholesterol and its fractions, fasting glucose, kidney and liver markers, plus a urine test.
• Bring all previous heart investigations and a full list of medicines with doses.
• At the visit the cardiologist listens to the heart and lungs, measures blood pressure, checks for ankle swelling, and palpates the abdomen.
• Where heart disease is suspected, an ECG is done, often echocardiography as well, and a stress test may follow, most often bicycle ergometry.
• The referral also covers repeat visits within the same illness episode.

In the public system, with a referral, a specialist visit carries a 4.00 EUR patient co-payment. Non-invasive functional heart tests cost 4.00 EUR, ECG tests 2.00 EUR, and coronary angiography in a day hospital 10.00 EUR. Co-payments in one calendar year are capped at 570.00 EUR. Without a referral the visit is a paid service at the provider's own rates.

• Cardiologist, first consultationPrice EUR: 65.00Provider: ARS medicīnas klīnika
• Cardiologist, repeat consultationPrice EUR: 55.00Provider: ARS medicīnas klīnika
• Cardiologist consultation, 30 minPrice EUR: 70.00Provider: ARS medicīnas klīnika
• Senior cardiologist, first consultationPrice EUR: 85.00Provider: Veselības centrs 4
• Extended echocardiographyPrice EUR: 85.00Provider: Veselības centrs 4
• Transoesophageal echocardiographyPrice EUR: 150.00Provider: Veselības centrs 4
• Remote cardiology consultation for test results or a prescriptionPrice EUR: 16.50Provider: Veselības centrs 4
• Patient co-payment for a specialist visitPrice EUR: 4.00Provider: NVD
• Patient co-payment for coronary angiography in a day hospitalPrice EUR: 10.00Provider: NVD

The specialty body is the Latvian Society of Cardiology (LKB), registration number 40008004320, registered address Pilsoņu iela 13, Rīga, LV-1002, email info@kardiologija.lv, kardiologija.lv. It was founded in 1972, with Prof. Jūlijs Anšelēvics as its first chair. In 1992 LKB was admitted to the European Society of Cardiology. The society runs continuing education and develops guidelines for cardiologists, internists and family doctors. President: Prof. Andrejs Ērglis, with the board elected on 31 October 2025 for a term running from 13 November 2025 to 12 November 2029.

The society also contains an Echocardiography Society, founded in 1997.

The parent body is the Latvian Medical Association, founded in 1988, whose Certification Council issues certificates. The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate.

If you have doubts about the quality of care, raise them first with the institution's management, which must operate a complaints and suggestions system. 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.