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

A urologist is a surgical specialist treating urinary tract disease in women and men, plus disease of the male genital organs. They provide both medical treatment and endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery.

• Kidney stone disease, including bladder stones
• Benign enlargement of the prostate
• Urinary tract infections: pyelonephritis, cystitis, prostatitis
• Urinary incontinence and bladder function disorders
• Urological cancers
• Male fertility problems

A family doctor is enough for a single uncomplicated urinary tract infection. A urologist is needed when infections recur, when there is blood in the urine, when urine flow is obstructed, or when surgery is required.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at RSU or the University of Latvia.
• Residency in urology. Programme page: RSU residency programme.
• In every training year the resident must complete 48 hours a month of duty in the hospital emergency department under the supervision of a certified urologist.
• The resident carries out teaching and research work, attends problem lectures and seminars, and defends a research project in the fifth year of study.
• 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 Russian, with some doctors also working in English.
• Outpatient or operating. Some urologists work mainly in clinic, others also operate. If surgery is likely, how often the surgeon performs it matters.
• Techniques. Price lists and doctor profiles show whether a doctor performs endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery, laser lithotripsy or TURP.
• Patient sex and topic. Urologists see both men and women. For male fertility questions, a doctor with andrology experience is worth seeking.
• 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.

• Bring urine and blood results, including a PSA value if one has been taken, plus earlier ultrasound and other imaging reports.
• The doctor may ask you to fill in the IPSS prostate symptom questionnaire, sometimes more than once so that change over time can be tracked.
• The doctor may ask you to keep a voiding diary for several days, recording fluid intake, urination frequency and volumes.
• At the visit a bladder ultrasound may be done, including to measure how much urine remains after voiding.
• Urodynamic testing or cystoscopy may be needed to refine the diagnosis, and these happen at a separate appointment.

In the public system, with a referral, a specialist visit costs 4.00 EUR, an ultrasound 4.00 EUR, and an endoscopic examination 7.00 EUR. Where tests follow state cancer screening, including prostate cancer screening, no patient co-payment applies. Co-payments in one calendar year are capped at 570.00 EUR.

• Scheduled urology consultation, 30 minPrice EUR: 106.50Provider: Premium Medical
• Repeat urology consultation, 20 minPrice EUR: 96.00Provider: Premium Medical
• Administration surcharge on an outpatient consultationPrice EUR: 1.00Provider: Rīgas 1. slimnīca
• Administration surcharge for an operated day hospital patientPrice EUR: 5.00Provider: Rīgas 1. slimnīca
• Patient co-payment for a specialist visitPrice EUR: 4.00Provider: NVD
• Patient co-payment for an endoscopic examinationPrice EUR: 7.00Provider: NVD

The specialty body is the Latvian Association of Urologists (LUA), registration number 40008002832, registered address Pilsoņu iela 13, Rīga, LV-1002, urologi.lv. It was founded on 8 February 1992 by transforming the Latvian Scientific Society of Urologists. Its first president was Edvīns Norvelis, followed by Ivars Smiltens and Atis Karulis, and from 2016 to 2022 the association was led by Pēteris Vaganovs. The professional association data names Juris Plonis as association president.

Andrology is represented by a separate society, "Latvijas andrologu biedrība", registration number 40008246684, contact Juris Erenpreiss.

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association, founded in 1988. 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.