Funding issues cast doubt over the renovation plans for Latvian Oncology Center due to suspect financial transactions

In a surprising turn of events, the Latvian Oncology Patient Association 'Onkoalianse' has expressed concern over funds being redirected from oncology patients to another group. The association plans to hold a picket outside the Cabinet of Ministers next week, voicing their concerns about the potential impact on cancer care.

The controversy stems from the Health Ministry's decision to request the return of previously allocated funding for the A2 wing of Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital (PSKUS). Originally, these funds were from the B building at Stradins Hospital and were intended for the completion of the A2 building, not for the Oncology Centre.

However, the money that was previously transferred to The Eastern Hospital for the construction of the Infectious Diseases Department is now planned to be reallocated back to Stradins Hospital. This shift in funds may potentially impact the planned projects at The Eastern Hospital (RAKUS), including the renovation of the Oncology Centre, as well as the quality and timeliness of care for cancer patients.

Irīna Januma, a board member of the Latvian Oncology Patient Association 'Onkoalianse', has compared the situation to the government having a chronic illness, highlighting the urgency of the matter. She has also expressed concern about the potential impact on cancer patients who have been waiting for years for promised reconstruction, more aesthetic premises, and shorter queues.

The tender for the construction at The Eastern Hospital ended without result, necessitating the return of the funds. The Health Minister, Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity), has not signed anything yet regarding the funding issue. Despite the Minister's explanation that the reallocated funds are not from the Oncology Centre, the association remains apprehensive about the impact on their care.

In response, the association plans to collect signatures on the Manabalss portal to ensure the renovation of the Oncology Centre. They urge the government to reconsider the decision, considering the long-delayed A2 wing of Stradins Hospital must be completed to avoid losing European funding.

The completion of the A2 wing of Stradins Hospital will require more money than initially expected, prompting the need for the reallocation of funds. The Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (Latvijas Pašvaldību savienība) is proposed to return the previously purchased funds for the completion of the A2 wing, which could result in Eastern Hospital not having enough financial resources for all its long-term planned projects.

This news has sparked a heated debate among Latvian citizens, with many expressing their support for the Onkoalianse and their concerns about the potential impact on cancer patients' care. The association's picket outside the Cabinet of Ministers next week is expected to draw a significant crowd, as the Latvian people rally in support of their fellow citizens battling cancer.