Enhancing General Practitioner Resilience in Latvia: Challenges and Solutions

A well-planned and developed primary healthcare system is an essential component of a high-performing, efficient healthcare system. However, in Latvia, there are challenges in attracting human resources to the GP specialty within the public sector. This issue may stem from insufficient interventions during both undergraduate and postgraduate education, variable socioeconomic factors, and ineffective incentives at the national and municipal levels.

By employing a multidisciplinary, international, and collaborative perspective, the project aims to generate new insights by evaluating national and local incentives, as well as both international and local factors, that enhance the recruitment and retention of students in the GP specialty in Latvia, with a particular focus on regional aspects.

Based on the research findings, short-term and long-term policy recommendations will be formulated for the relevant stakeholders to attract new doctors to the GP specialty in the public sector and ensure their retention in the profession. The recommendations will also define the potential impact on the national budget. The project's outcomes will contribute to a sustainable approach to the provision of healthcare and public health services in the country, supporting the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders with evidence-based recommendations.