Latvia

Part One

| Professional recognition in your country

1.1. Which organisation recognises doctors eligible to practice in your country?

In case your country has more then one organisation which can provide professional recognition, please attach to this survey a simple list of names and websites where we can acquire more information.

NAME: LATVIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

TYPE OF ORGANISATION (PROFESSIONAL, GOVERNMENT, ETC.) TRADE UNION AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATION

ADDRESS: SKOLAS STREET 3, RIGA, LV-1010

PHONE NUMBER: +371 67220661

FAX: +3716722657

CONTACT PERSON:

E-MAIL: MIGRATION@ARSTUBIEDRIBA.LV

WEBSITE (S): WWW.ARSTUBIEDRIBA.LV

1.2. What requirements/documents are necessary for a foreign doctor to practice medicine?

i.e. language skills, medical degree, insurance, immigration status.

1.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, when)?

Furthermore, how long does the professional recognition procedure usually take?

There are no deadlines.
Temporary registration - within 1 month from the time of receipt of all documents.
Permanent professional recognition - within 3 months from the receipt of all documents.

Where else can we find more information?

www.aic.lv
http://www.arstubiedriba.lv

1.4. Are there any sort of examinations/interviews to apply for Medical Professional Recognition?

There is no examinations/interviews to apply for Medical Professional Recognition.
No

1.5.1. What kind of professional medical degrees are there in your country?

Medical doctor
Doctor - resident
Doctor – trainee
Medical specialist

1.5.2. How do you access each degree?

Medical doctor – after completing 6 years in medical training.
Doctor resident – doctor in residency program.
Doctor trainee – doctor working in hospital without / additional to residency training.
Medical specialist - depending on residency length (1- 6 years)

Part Two

| Training in your country

2.1. Which organisation is responsible for medical training in your country?

In case your country has more than one organisation with this function, please attach to this survey a simple list of names and websites where we can acquire more information.

In Latvia there are 2 organisations responsible for training

Name: Riga Stradins University
Address Riga Stradins University - 16 Dzirciema Street, Riga, LV-1007
Type of organization (professional, government, etc.):
Phone number: +37167409237
Fax:
Contact person: Ilze Grope
E-mail: ilze.grope@rsu.lv
Website: https://www.rsu.lv/talakizglitiba-un-kursi/rezidentura

Name: Latvian University
Address Aspazijas bulvāris 5, 2nd floor, room 224.
Type of organization (professional, government, etc.):
Phone number: 00371 29113308
Fax:
Contact person: Anda Pozarnova
E-mail:   Anda.Pozarnova@lu.lv
Website: https://www.lu.lv/studentiem/studijas/limeni/rezidentura/

2.2. Besides professional recognition, is there any other requirement for a doctor to start his training/begin to work (i.e. examination, clerkship, internship)? Namely, which documents/examinations are necessary when applying for training/job?

It depends from the applied position:
For a training position, doctor has to participate in a competition to a residency position where application, recommendations, diploma, scientific work in last 7 years, certificates for PGT, CV and an interview are evaluated
Applying for different position – depends on institution.

2.2.1. Where are training positions advertised?

2.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, which)?

Yes, for residency programs - (application till 8th July, interviews usually till 20 September)
For other positions – depends on institution

Where else can we find more information?
https://www.rsu.lv/talakizglitiba-un-kursi/rezidentura
https://www.lu.lv/gribustudet/rezidentura/uznemsanas-kartiba/
https://www.aslimnica.lv/lv/saturs/vakances
https://www.stradini.lv/lv/job-opportunities

2.4. How do applicants choose what and where they would like to train?

It depends on their preferences and available positions. It is allowed to apply for training position for not more than for two different specialities.

2.5. Is there a fee/tuition for attending a training programme?

Most of the training positions are State funded.
There is possibility to apply for residency – paying tuition fee (5120 euro in a year), in this case, resident has to pay for training and does not receive salary. However, in this case there is bigger possibility to get the position in selected speciality.

Where else can we find more information?
https://www.rsu.lv/talakizglitiba-un-kursi/rezidentura
https://www.lu.lv/gribustudet/rezidentura/uznemsanas-kartiba/

2.6. Do trainees receive a salary during training?

Yes

2.6.1. Moreover, what is the current salary and is overtime paid?

1st and 2nd year residents get ~1500 euro (bruto)
Starting from 3rd year +10%, which is around ~1650 (bruto)
All overtime hours (e.g. above 40h per week) are paid double if at the end of month the total number of hours exceeds 168h (in case of 21 working days).

2.6.2. What type of contracts are there? How long are the working and on-calls times?

Residency contract is a standard one: 168h per month (and 11h overtime are paid directly from residency funding, anything above can be financed from the resident's hospital).

2.6.3. Are sick leave, vacation days, maternity leave, voluntary work allowed and do they entail a reduction of salary?

The sick leave, maternity leave and vacation days are allowed and payed.

Sick leave is payed, reduction of salary depends on length of sick leave.
Maternity leave – before childbirth 56 or 72 days are payed (80% from the salary in last 12 month, depending on registration with gynaecologist (have to register until 12 week of pregnancy). After childbirth – there is possibility to choose to take maternity leave for 1 year (60% from the average insurance contribution wages) or maternity leave for 1.5 year (43.75% from the average insurance contribution wages).
Vacation – for 4 weeks (no reduction of salary)
Free days for voluntary work are Not provided.

Where else can we find more information?
https://www.vsaa.lv/media/uploads/UserFiles/pakalpojumi/vecakiem/pabalst...
Information about sick leave - https://lvportals.lv/skaidrojumi/292440-izmainas-tiesibas-uz-slimibas-pa...

2.7. In general terms, how is the training assessment done?

i.e. exams, evaluations, interviews, appraisal

During the Residency program, it depends from the university, hospital, residency program, supervisor etc.
Completing every residency program, there is an End exam.
Depending from speciality, in the end there is certification exam, which can include MCQ, oral exam, and practical exam.

Part Three

| Other details about training/working in your country

3.1. Is mobility possible inside and outside the country during your training?

Yes, it is possible.
As training in Latvia is organised in collaboration – university and hospital - resident can apply for exchange programs also as a student.

3.2. How many trainees are there in your country?

Divided, if possible, by in each speciality.

We have around 800 residents.

3.3. What are the success, training drop-out and post-training employment rates?

Dropout rates are less than 0.05% in a year.
Post –training employment rates – n.a.

3.4. Is there an accreditation procedure for training centres (and do they include visitations)?

Yes, there is Latvian accreditation process to all residency programs.
European accreditation only in anaesthesiology and gynaecology.
There is no accreditation for the hospital departments.

3.5. Is there any national recertification/revalidation scheme to practice?

Yes, every 5 years, recertification needs to be done.
The responsible organisation is Latvian Medical Association.

3.6. Are there any differences in the application procedure according to the country of origin of a trainee?

3.7.1. Are there any restrictions for a foreign doctor who is undergoing training in your country to work there afterwards?

Not that we know.

3.7.2. Moreover, is it possible for a trainee undergoing training in another EU/EEA country to do part of his training in your country? If so, what are the necessary requirements/documents?

N.a. - This probably depends of residency organisation in applicants home country. There are no common rules, probably every situation has to be analysed individually.
Where else can we find more information?
Please contact LJDA – ljaa@ljaa.lv, we will try to help to get information about possible solutions depending on the applicants needs and wishes.

3.8. Please summarise the general timeline between the time where a doctor has just graduated until he has attained a final senior post as an independent medical doctor.

In other words, please describe, in general terms, the training of a junior doctor in your country.

The training is different length in every speciality (1-6 years).

3.9. Is it compulsory to have malpractice (or any other) insurance?

3.10. What is the general perspective/position on immigration of medical trainees to your country?

Trainee has to have Latvian language knowledge level (C1). Overall, there is high need for medical specialists in emergency medicine and specialists in rural areas.

3.11. What is the general perspective/position on emigration of medical trainees to foreign countries?

There are restrictions for medical trainees to emigrate.
After completion of residency, specialist has to work in his speciality in Latvia for 3 years, or pay to the State expenses of residency (excluding trainees’ salary). The same rules are applied, if residency is not completed.

3.12. Are there any restrictions in your country to comply with the consolidated version of EU 2005/36?

No.

3.13. Which organisation(s) specialise in assisting doctors in legal and work matters?

i.e. trade unions, medical chambers, other organizations.

Latvian Medical Association

3.14. Is there any other information you consider relevant with regard to this subject?

We would kindly ask provide website with our contact information ljaa@ljaa.lv, if there is any need for additional information or help to resolve questions about junior doctors migration possibilities to Latvia.