Healthcare services in Riga are modern, accessible and well suited to international residents and visitors, with many clinics and hospitals offering consultations in English. Foreigners who are legally employed in Latvia with a temporary residence permit, as well as citizens of EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, may register with the National Health Service of Latvia. Registration allows access to state-funded healthcare services in Riga, including visits to a state-funded general practitioner (called a family doctor), under the same conditions as local residents.
The city provides a wide range of public and private medical options. State-funded medical services are offered both in major hospitals and private clinics, however choosing paid appointments often gives you the chance to book faster appointments and choose multilingual staff.
Family doctors
If you are looking for a family doctor in Riga, you can choose between state-funded practices and private clinics, depending on your residency status, language needs and budget. Both options provide access to primary healthcare services in Riga, including general consultations, referrals to specialists and basic medical treatment.
Understanding the differences between public and private family doctors is especially important for foreigners, as availability, costs and English-language services can vary significantly between the two systems.
State-funded doctors
- The visit is paid for by the state;
- The doctors are assigned to specific territories and are chosen based on your declared address;
- The doctor has the right to decline your application if they have already a maximum number of patients in their practice;
- Most of the state-funded doctors speak only Latvian and Russian - finding one that speaks English could be challenging.
Private doctors
- The visit is paid for by the patient;
- Most private doctors speak English;
- Most employers in Latvia provide private health insurance to the employees that can partially or fully cover the costs of a private doctor.
In the event of an emergency in Latvia – please call 112 (general emergency) or 113 (medical emergency).
English-speaking doctors in Riga
Finding English-speaking doctors in Riga is generally easier through private healthcare providers, which often cater to international residents, business travellers and expats. These clinics usually offer consultations in English, shorter waiting times and a wide range of specialists under one roof. Below you can find contact details for several well-known medical centres where English-speaking staff are commonly available, including VC4, Clinic ARS and Capital Clinic Riga - all popular choices for foreigners seeking reliable healthcare services in the city.
Hospitals in Riga
Riga is home to several large public hospitals and specialised medical centres that provide treatment for acute conditions, long-term care and specific medical fields such as trauma, maternity services and mental health. These institutions form the backbone of Latvia’s public healthcare system and are used both by local residents and eligible foreigners.
Below is a list of major hospitals in Riga that focus on different areas of care and emergency services:
- Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital
- Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (“Gaiļezers”)
- Riga 2nd Hospital (use the Translate to English option)
- Traumatology and Orthopaedics Hospital
- Rīgas Dzemdību nams (Maternity Hospital)
- Riga Psychiatry and Narcology Centre (use the Translate to English option)
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Foreigners employed in Latvia are eligible to apply for an EHIC card free of charge. Alternatively, if you are an EU resident, you apply for EHIC in your home country before moving to Latvia – contact details of national health insurance providers are available here.
The European Health Insurance Card gives you access to medically necessary, state-funded healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country. Information about where and in what circumstances an EHIC card can be used in Latvia is available on the NHS website.
Please note that EHIC:
- Is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property;
- Does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the specific purpose of obtaining medical treatment;
- Does not guarantee free services. Each country’s healthcare system is different - services that cost nothing in your home country might not be free here in Latvia.
When coming to Riga, you may also require a number of medical records (e.g. a vaccination passport, medical certificates, and medical history). These are very helpful if you need to continue receiving treatment and to give your Latvian doctor with a better understanding of your medical background, so be sure to take them with you. More detailed information is available here!