RIGA, Oct 31 (LETA) - Optimization of the hospital network and close cooperation between levels of care are critical to strengthening the health sector, Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity) said at the end of a visit to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abu Meri stressed that in the current geopolitical context, it is critical to strengthen preparedness and resilience to face health crises. Making the medical system more efficient is at the heart of the countries in the region, the Minister stressed. Scandinavia is one of the flagships in this respect, he said, and the main priority of his visit to Denmark was to "adopt good practices".

"Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine, including attacks on medical facilities and medical workers, while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and military escalation in Lebanon are growing. We must also be prepared for any developments," Abu Meri said.

The Health Minister also addressed the 74th Session of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe in Copenhagen, underlining Latvia's strong support for the implementation and active implementation of the WHO Regional Preparedness and Response Strategy for Europe Preparadness 2.0.

During the WHO session, the Minister congratulated the current Director of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, Hans Kluge, who had been nominated for this post for the next five years, confirming Latvia's readiness to strengthen cooperation with the Regional Director and his office.

Kluge welcomed Latvia's progress in reducing medicine prices. As reported earlier, the reform of the medicine prices will come into force on January 1 next year, which will reduce the prices of the most expensive medicines.

During his visit to Denmark, Abu Meri also met with the Ministers of Health of Azerbaijan and Cyprus, who confirmed their readiness to strengthen cooperation with Latvia in the field of health tourism and student exchange, as well as to implement experience exchange projects.

In his talks with members of the Danish Association of General Practitioners, the Minister was briefed on the division of responsibilities between general practitioners and nurses, and the expansion of the competences of general practitioners, for example in carrying out examinations such as ultrasonography and endoscopy.

In order to strengthen cooperation in education and research, Abu Meri visited Herlev Hospital, where the focus was on robotics in surgery, health information systems and simulation-based education.

At the same time, he visited the Gastroenterology Laboratory at Aalborg University and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.