Haematologist in Latvia

Haematology is the field specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disease. It studies blood cells, meaning white cells, platelets and red cells, along with bone marrow, lymph nodes, the spleen, and the proteins responsible for bleeding and clotting.

• Lymphomas, chronic and acute leukaemias, myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Inherited clotting disorders such as haemophilia and von Willebrand disease
• Autoimmune blood disease: autoimmune thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia
• Deficiency anaemias
• Unexplained blood test changes where no other cause can be found

Changes in blood counts are often secondary to another illness, and the family doctor or specialist then judges whether a haematology consultation is needed. Where no cause can be found but blood disease is suspected, the patient should be seen by a haematologist.

Full blood count

the basic test showing red cell, white cell and platelet numbers, and the starting point of any haematology workup.

Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy

taking a bone marrow sample to establish the diagnosis. Haematologists learn this during residency.

Leukaemia

a malignant disease of the blood-forming system, either acute or chronic.

Lymphoma

a malignant disease of the lymphatic system.

Myeloma

a malignant disease of the plasma cells in bone marrow.

Stem cell transplantation

autologous or allogeneic transplantation used in combination with chemotherapy.

Transfusion

infusion of red cells, platelets or plasma, given to haematology patients in hospital.

Reimbursed medicines

drugs whose cost the state covers in part or full, prescribed by doctors under contract with the National Health Service.

1. 1Open Health Inspectorate - register of medical practitioners (registri.vi.gov.lv) (opens in a new window).
2. 2Enter the surname or practitioner identifier in the search box.
3. 3Confirm the listed specialty reads "Hematologs". Some doctors also hold internal medicine or medical oncology in the register.
4. 4Check the certificate validity date. A permit or an adaptation period is not a certificate.
5. 5If anything is unclear, see the register explanation page (opens in a new window).

• In practice the choice is narrow. Oncohaematology care is concentrated in Rīga, and stem cell transplantation happens at a single clinic.
• A state-funded visit for reimbursed medicines. Prescriptions for reimbursed medicines may only be issued by doctors under contract with the National Health Service, so obtaining them requires a state-funded appointment.
• Type of disease. Clotting disorders and blood cancers are handled in different wards, so it helps to state the diagnosis when booking.
• Languages. Consultations run in Latvian and Russian, with some doctors also working in English.
• Second opinion. Patients may freely choose the doctor and institution.

In the public system, with a referral, a specialist visit costs 4.00 EUR, day hospital treatment 7.00 EUR per day, and inpatient treatment 10.00 EUR per day from the second day. Inpatient co-payments are capped at 355.00 EUR per illness episode and 570.00 EUR per calendar year overall. The Latvian Haemophilia Society notes that a haematology appointment requires a family doctor referral for ongoing monitoring, valid for one year.

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 (opens in a new window).