Latvian moms who decide to give birth in Estonia should not be punished - NGO

Photo: Panther Media/Scanpix

 Latvian mothers who go to Valga, Estonia to give birth in the hospital there should not be punished and the government should educate people instead that childbirth and child care services in Latvia are free of charge, the non-governmental organization of parents Maminu Klubs (Mothers' Club) says.

Suspecting inappropriate spending of government funds, Latvia's National Health Service (NVD) has subjected cases where Latvian women have given birth in the hospital of the Estonian border town to a scrutiny and asked the Estonian Health Insurance Fund to probe 58 such cases. Specifically, NVD wants to know whether the women had planned to give birth in Estonia. If it is established that this was the case, Latvia could refuse to pay the Estonian bills for the birthing services, NVD representative Laura Lapina said.

Sandija Salaka, head of Maminu Klubs, said that moms were looking for the best quality medical service and, having found a loophole in the system, were giving birth in Estonia. There is a dominating opinion in Latvia that in order to receive good quality service moms have to sign paid agreements with midwives, said Salaka. Estonia meanwhile is offering good quality free of charge.

"The state should educate people about the services available in Latvia, inform that birthing services and child care services in Latvia are free of charge. The maternity wards in hospitals also should be more active," said Salaka.

She underscored that her NGO "will strongly oppose it" if NVD comes up with sanctions against Latvian moms whose baby was born in Valga.

Latvia has to pay more from the health care budget for birthing services in Estonia than for births in Latvia. In Estonia the health fund is billed about 737 euros for the birth of a child at a state hospital, whereas Latvian tariffs range from 181 lats (EUR 257) for a natural birth to 347 lats for a Cesarean.

Lapina said the European Health Insurance Card (EKMS) ensures that patients are able to receive emergency medical treatment in another EU country, but if the mom has planned to go to Estonia to give birth the case is no longer one of emergency.

Solvita Olsena, head of the Institute of Medical Law, voiced her surprise over the NVD activities, reminding that delivery was classed as an emergency medical service. Besides, Latvia should not risk the lives of its mothers and babies, she said.

Media have reported that women in Valka, the Latvian town that borders the Estonian Valga, often decide to give birth in Estonia. There is no maternity ward in Valka any more and the closest hospital with a maternity unit is in Valmiera 50 kilometers away.

(EUR 1 = LVL 0.7028)