Funding concerns for the Latvian Oncology Center's refurbishment intensify due to financial mismanagement
In a recent development, the infamous A2 wing of PSKUS, a major hospital in Latvia, is set to receive funding that was initially allocated for the renovation of the Oncology Centre at RAKUS. This fund diversion has caused delays and concerns among cancer patients, who are worried about the impact on their timely treatment.
The patient association Onkoalianse has been actively working to ensure the renovation of the Oncology Centre. They have planned a picket outside the Cabinet of Ministers next week and are also collecting signatures on the Manabalss portal to voice their concerns. Irīna Januma, a board member of the Latvian Oncology Patient Association 'Onkoalianse', has expressed her concern about funding being taken from oncology patients for another project.
The Health Minister, Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity), has not signed anything regarding the funding request yet. The Health Ministry plans to request the return of previously allocated funding for the A2 wing of Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSKUS). The reallocation of funds is necessary for the completion of the A2 wing at Stradiņš Hospital, but the long-delayed project will require more money than initially expected.
The reallocated money was initially meant for the B building at Stradiņi. The money previously transferred to the Eastern Hospital for the Infectious Diseases Department construction is now planned to be reallocated back to Stradiņš Hospital. However, this decision has raised concerns among cancer patients, who have been waiting for years for promised reconstruction, more aesthetic premises, and shorter queues.
The Health Minister's decision not to sign anything yet indicates that the funding situation is not finalized. The minister has clarified that the reallocated funds are for Stradiņš Hospital, not the Oncology Centre. The Eastern Hospital (RAKUS) may not have enough money for all of its long-planned projects due to the funding request.
Cancer patients are concerned that the funding shift could negatively impact their care. They are worried that the delay in the renovation of the Oncology Centre could lead to the loss of European funding for the hospital. The tender for the Infectious Diseases Department construction at the Eastern Hospital ended without result, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the hospital's future projects.
The completion of the A2 wing of Stradiņš Hospital is crucial to avoid losing European funding. The patient association Onkoalianse urges the government to prioritise the renovation of the Oncology Centre and ensure timely treatment for cancer patients. The association's efforts to collect signatures and hold a picket outside the Cabinet of Ministers next week aim to bring attention to this pressing issue.
The Latvian Oncology Patient Association 'Onkoalianse' is concerned that the reallocated funding, initially intended for the B building at Stradiņi, could negatively affect their care and the renovation of the Oncology Centre. The Health Minister's decision to reallocate funds for the A2 wing of Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSKUS) could impact the timely treatment of cancer patients, as the delay in the renovation of the Oncology Centre could lead to the loss of European funding for the hospital. The association emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the renovation of the Oncology Centre and ensuring health and wellness for cancer patients. The European Union, being a significant financier of medical-conditions research and health initiatives, may view this funding diversion as a breach of trust, potentially jeopardizing future collaborations and projects.
