Health workforce planning in Latvia: comparison of balance between existing supply and demand

Limited public funding available to health care in combination with time dedicated to train post-graduate medical specialists are the key issues according to which amount as well as distribution by specialty of post-graduate training 24728982 needs to be planned foresightly, wisely and in a complex manner. To use resources in most effective way, supply and demand needs to be balanced very well. The main objective of this thesis was to assess existing demand in Latvia of post-graduate training specialists in comparison with supply policy implemented by Ministry of Health. Documents and information analysis were carried out. Demand side was analyzed using Job vacancy platform, maintained by Riga Stradins university Faculty of Residency (RSF). RSF regularly updates Job vacancy platform, surveying and gathering information from 29 medical institutions. Supply side was analyzed through the public policy documents by Ministry of Health and data from post-graduate training admission contest in 2019 and 2020. 1. 365 post-graduate training posts for basic specialties in medical institutions was available in 2020, including 32 posts for gynecologist, obstetrician, 32 posts for internist and 30 posts for anesthetist. 2. In average 200 post-graduate training posts to basic specialties in admission contest was available in 2019 and 2020, including 5 study posts for gynecologist, obstetrician, 18 study posts for internist and 15 study posts for anesthetist. 3. In average 44 undergraduate students in 2019 and 2020 were not able to enter state financed post-graduate studies due to lack of available training posts. Demand exceeds existing supply, especially in certain specialties. Supply of post-graduate specialists is insufficient. Given the lack of coherent planning of posts of undergraduate and post-graduate studies, bottleneck in supply value chain exists, exacerbating insufficient supply. Existing supply policy needs to be improved. Nevertheless, further studies must be carried out to offer appropriate solutions.