Planned hospital stays and/or treatments at hospitals are covered by the state if the patient has a letter of referral from their family doctor or a specialist (see previous section). In this case the hospital stay costs only a patient contribution of 7.11 EUR for the first 24h, and 13.52 EUR for each consecutive day. These contributions can be covered by medical insurance (see section on Medical Insurance).
In case of an emergency, the general hotline is 112. Ambulance can also be reached directly by dialing 113.
The hospitals in Riga that offer 24h emergency services are:
Both prescription and non-prescription medicines can be bought in pharmacies. For prescription medicines one needs a prescription either from a family doctor or a specialist. Some, but not all, prescription medicines can be reimbursed the state. Please inquire at your doctor.
Pharmacies are open during normal business hours, commonly closing between 8 pm and 10 pm on workdays. The majority of pharmacies are open also on weekends, including Sundays, but with reduced opening hours.
You can find the closest pharmacy to you via the Pharmacy Map.
An up-to-date list of pharmacies in Riga that are open 24/7
Update 26/08/2015
With so much to deal with before leaving your home country, (taxes, moving house, paperwork etc.) the careful planning of your expatriation to Riga is an essential step. As far as healthcare is concerned, your local social security scheme won’t be accompanying you to your host country and, once abroad, you might be surprised by the care system you find in Latvia So, before leaving, make sure you have appropriate cover!
Cigna is one of the world's biggest international insurers with more than 30 years' experience in providing global health insurance across 200 countries and territories. They have access to more than 1.65 million hospitals, physicians, clinics and specialists worldwide.
Cigna Global's flexible plans are specifically designed for expats and globally mobile individuals who move to Latvia. All their plans can be tailored to your individual requirements in Latvia, always finding the right healthcare solution, whatever the situation and budget.
Create your perfect plan with Cigna and combine the reassurance of comprehensive inpatient cover with the flexibility of optional extra benefits.
Click on the button to access the online tool and get a quote in 2 minutes.