Latvian Health Minister
This article was originally published in SRA
Executive Summary
Parliament approves new ministerial cabinet
Parliament approves new ministerial cabinet
The Latvian Saeima (parliament) has approved the new cabinet of ministers, headed by Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis1. Gundars Berzins, previously minister for finance, was appointed as health minister2. Both Mr Kalvitis and Mr Berzins are representatives of the Peoples’ Party.
Following his appointment, Mr Berzins proposed changes to the national healthcare system including plans to extend full or partial reimbursement for medicines that treat cancer and haematological and kidney disorders as well as medicines containing growth hormones.
The approval of the new coalition cabinet - voted for on 2 December 2004 by a sweeping majority of MPs - ends the authority of the previous, short-lived, government headed by Indulis Emsis, which collapsed after parliament voted against the 2005 budget3. It caps a year in which Latvia joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
References
1. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia press release, 2 December 2004, www.mk.gov.lv
2. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia, Composition of the cabinet of ministers, 2 December 2004, www.mk.gov.lv
3. US Department of State, Background Note: Latvia, December 2004, www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm