Health and Structural funds in : country and regional assessment. Country Assessment for HeAltH & structural funds.

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1 Country Assessment for HeAltH & structural funds latvia (lv) Table 1: Country assessment summary - Latvia NSRF strategic objectives Funding Direct Indirect Potential health source health sector health sector gain investment investment Personal Economic Social Environmental Development & efficient use of human resources ESF/ ERDF E, S, P Strengthening competitiveness and progress towards a knowledge-based economy ERDF - - E, S Improved public services and infrastructure as a precondition for balanced national and territorial development ERDF/ CF S, P, Env, E Lisbon Agenda (renewed 2005) To create a more attractive investment and working environment; To enhance growth through knowledge and innovation; To create more and better jobs. Table 2: Eligible regions under Cohesion Policy Objectives Cohesion Policy Objective Regions Convergence Latvija. Phasing out Phasing in Regional competitiveness and employment Table 2: Eligible regions under Cohesion Policy Objectives Background: Latvia has a population of 2.2 million. In the period from the beginning of 1999 to the beginning of 2005 Latvia s population decreased by The age structure of the population is: 0-14 years 13.6%; year: 69.6%; 65 years and over 16.7%. Life expectancy at birth is 71.6 years for the total population, years for males and 77.1 years for females (Source: Overall, in the past decade Latvia has experienced: negative national population growth, low life expectancy, a decline in the birth rate and ageing of the population. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and figures for ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases are higher than the EU average. The standard death rate from cervical cancer was triple the EU average in Challenges that Latvia has to address in order to maintain and improve an healthy labour force are: a declining working age population; an ageing population in general; unsatisfactory labour force health, including a high proportion of occupational diseases. (Source: Ministry of Finance. National Strategic Reference Framework May 2007). 80

2 Table 3: Programme period health investment in the NSRF and OPs Allocation of money in the SF Source and budget ERDF ; ESF ; CF Total Health sector % of total allocated SF (approximately 5.4%) NSRF strategic objectives (with OP relevance and funding source) 1. Development & efficient use of human resources (OP HRE - ESF) 2. Strengthening competitiveness and progress towards a knowledge-based economy (OP EI - ERDF) 3. Improved public services and infrastructure as a precondition for balanced national and territorial development (OP IS - ERDF/CF) Operational Programmes Human resources and employment (OP HRE) Entrepreneurship & innovation (OP EI) Infrastructure and services (OP IS) Direct health sector investment (with NSRF/OP relevance) Health infrastructure To improve the infrastructure of providers of the ambulatory health care services thus technically ensuring and developing ambulatory health care services, including primary health care providers network (OP IS: Health care infrastructure Activity 1). Access to health care and improved health services To improve emergency medical assistance services available in Latvia in order to provide quick and effectiveness medical assistance in pre-hospital period (OP IS: Health care infrastructure Activity 2). Ensure optimisation of the network of providers of Hospital health care services by increasing the quality of health care services as well as improvement and concentration of medical equipment required for the treatment of patients (OP IS: Health care infrastructure Activity 3). E-Health Providing the necessary ICT infrastructure and Internet access to public administration bodies, operating in such areas as employment, social services, health, culture, education and others; development of e-services (OP IS: Information and communication technologies Activity 1). Health research To perform studies and surveys that are analysing relationship between health status at work, health status of inhabitants in working age and health services on one hand and the employment situation on other hand. Studies and surveys will be focused on health habits and health status of workers, its influence on productivity and probability of dropping out from labour market. It will also examine correlation between employment and timely illness detection, quality of human capital in healthcare institutions, as well as quality, effectiveness and availability of health care and emergency services. The aim of the studies and surveys is to analyse present situation, to forecast situation in the next years and to elaborate new guidelines and programmes for improving the health of workers (Strategic objective 1, OP HRE priority Promoting employment and health at work, Activity ). Education and training To provide in health promotion and health care involved institutions personnel training, enhancing qualification and skills and inclusion in labour market, to obtain quality health care services providing, diagnostic of illness, medical rehabilitation, preventive actions, sector administration of full value and to promote cooperation between health care institutions and employers (Strategic objective 1, OP HRE priority Promoting employment and health at work Activity ). 81

3 Table 3: Programme period health investment in the NSRF and OPs Indirect health sector investment (with NSRF/OP relevance) An important factor in providing the necessary labour force to the economy is the health of people. By using the SF support to leverage the implementation of workforce health promotion measures and preventive measures, as well as measures aimed at improving the quality and availability of health protection services, costs incurred by the country s labour force and human resources in general due to the health-related problems would be gradually decreased (Strategic objective 1). To promote awareness about health at work as vital precondition for sustainable employment, thus, reducing the risk of disablement due to illnesses (occupational diseases etc). Support sustaining of employment or re-entry into employment for vulnerable groups e.g. persons infected with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, type C viral hepatitis, alcoholic and drug abusers (OP HRE priority Promoting employment and health at work Activity ). To ensure implementation of competence approach in management processes of public administration human resources as well as to ensure design and implementation of human resources planning and management IT systems (OP HRE priority Administrative capacity building Activity ). Evidence of capacity to deliver intersectoral policy and planning In terms of maximising health gain from Structural Funds capacity building is an approach to the development of relevant sustainable skills, organisational structures, resources and commitment in health and other sectors. An initial focus for maximising health gain from use of Structural Funds could assess current mindsets in and achieving added value from investment decisions and implementation in the following areas: organisational development and workforce development (intermediary bodies including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Education and Science); resources allocation (OP Managing Authority - Ministry of Finance, OP Monitoring Committee (joint for ESF and ERDF), ESF sub-committee, ERDF sub-committee; leadership (NSRF Coordinating Authority, OP Managing Authority, intermediary bodies); partnerships (Cooperation authorities e.g. Society Integration Foundation, State Regional Development Agency, Housing Agency, Health Statistics and Medical Technologies State Agency). Regional planning and implementation (From OPs) Latvia is treated as a single regional entity. However, at a national and sub-national level the OP HRE under the priority Administrative capacity building has identified the need to take action in the following relevant areas: Policy Impact Assessment and Conducting Policy Research Reduction of Administrative Barriers and Quality Improvement of Public Services Increasing Operational Quality and Efficiency of Public Administration Institutions Development of Human Resource Planning and Management System in Public Administration Capacity Building of Social Partners, Non-Governmental Organizations and Municipalities Attracting Specialists to Planning Regions, Towns and Amalgamated Municipalities Development Planning Capacity Building of Planning Regions and Local Governments. To promote balanced territorial development the OP HRE has integrated a special hori-zontal priority with this title. The principles of balanced territorial development have been included in project selection criteria giving priority to the regions that need support in the respective areas. Monitoring implementation of this priority is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments. At the other end and in relation to urban development, the Latvian programme includes the horizontal priority International competitiveness of Riga. The implementation will take place similar to that of the balanced territorial development priority. 82

4 Table 4: Non-health sector investment with potential health gain Strategic objective (and OP) Development & efficient use of human resources (OP HRE) Relevant investments Potential health gain To provide efficient support to population groups which are subject to risk of social exclusion in order to increase their motivation and competitiveness in labour market, by ensuring support projects to improve integration opportunities for the unemployed of target group and economically inactive people in economically active age into labour market, for the unemployed of target groups of supported employment measures, as well as increase of motivation and programmes of employment contribution for long-term unemployed and economically inactive people in working age. (OP HRE priority Promotion of social inclusion Activity ). To reduce a risk to become disabled for persons with threatened disability, to improve the support system for the disabled, reducing the risk of their social exclusion. Social rehabilitation services will be developed in the regions to improve social and functional skills of vulnerable groups to strengthen the employment and social integration of the target group. (OP HRE priority Promotion of social inclusion Activity ). To promote development of regional social dialogue and increase participation possibilities of social partners in action policy designing and implementation at regional, national and international levels, to achieve active and qualitative participation of non-governmental sector in decision-making process and provision of public services as well as to strengthen capacity of NGOs and local governments to implement the activities financed by the EU Structural Funds (OP HRE priority Administrative capacity building Activity ). 83 Economic, social, personal

5 Table 4: Non-health sector investment with potential health gain Strengthening competitiveness and progress towards a knowledgebased economy To support practical research projects promoting the integration of research and production and the use of research results according to the research priorities nominated by the government (such as agrobiotechnology, informatics, biomedicine and pharmaceutics, energy sector, material science, forest science, medical science and environmental science), ensuring public access to the research results (OP EI: Science, Research and Development Activity 1). Enhancement of business competitiveness by establishing Competence Centres and Centres of Knowledge transfer and commercialisation. The Competence Centres will encourage cooperation of the research and industry sector in the implementation of projects of industrial research (applied research) and the development of new products and technologies. The centres of knowledge transfer and commercialisation will ensure a systematic framework for promoting commercialization of research as well as studying research competence (capacity) and purposeful development in universities and institutes (OP EI: Innovation Activity 1). This activity is aimed at promoting the preparation and implementation of efficient cluster development strategies, including implementation of joint projects, thus, ensuring, more rapid growth of competitiveness of industries and, indirectly, businesses themselves (OP EI: Business Infrastructure and Improvements to Equipment Activity 3). Economic, social Improved public services and infrastructure as a precondition for balanced national and territorial development Modernization of Riga suburb railway passenger transportation system and integration in Riga city public transport system, longterm development of Riga and Riga suburb public transport system by elaboration of Riga suburb mobility general plan, increase of passenger transportation quality and effectiveness, introduction of new technologies, development of rolling stock...and infrastructure, thus relieving the network of Riga streets and especially bridges, at the same time reducing pollution of surrounding environment created by road transport and risk of pollution that can arise in result of traffic accidents (OP IS: Development of Sustainable Transport System Activity 1). Making large-scale investments in sports facilities, in order to promote health of people and the quality of labour force, thus creating preconditions for the formation of a healthy, physically and mentally developed personality (OP IS: Social infrastructure ). To improve the quality of water distribution and waste water collection and treatment and make these services more accessible, ensuring a living environment of high quality, reducing environmental pollution and eutrophication of water reservoirs and promoting the rational use of water and energy (OP IS: Infrastructure of environmental protection Activity 1). To ensure revitalization of deprived territories in Riga according to an integrated urban development strategy for revitalization of deprived areas thereby promoting further social-economic growth preconditions for Latvia s capital city (OP IS: Support for Sustainable Urban Environment and Urban Area Development Activity 2). Environmental, economic, social, personal 84