Today, the 10th Latvian Doctors’ Congress begins in Riga, bringing together more than 5,000 doctors and other medical professionals from Latvia and abroad over the course of four days. This year marks 36 years since the First World Latvian Doctors’ Congress, and the tradition established back then continues to this day – every four years, the largest forum in the medical field unites healthcare professionals, scientists, and the public in a shared professional space. Olpha is the main sponsor of the event.
“The first World Latvian Doctors’ Congress in 1989 was a significant event of the Awakening era, both professionally and politically, gathering around six thousand doctors, dentists, nurses, and other specialists and scientists from the field. This year’s program marks several key differences compared to previous congresses. One of the most visible is the inclusion of military-related topics, where doctors with hands-on experience working in Ukraine, as well as those preparing the public for possible emergencies, will share their knowledge and experience. Likewise, new technologies—especially artificial intelligence, which in recent years has rapidly become part of our daily lives—will be a topic of discussion at the congress. We will explore whether we are falling behind or perhaps moving too quickly,” explains Professor Mārcis Leja, President of the 10th Latvian Doctors’ Congress.
The opening day of the congress will begin with a ceremonial ecumenical service at Riga Cathedral, followed by the first plenary session at ATTA CENTRE titled “Challenges of Communication and Related Ethical Issues in Medicine,” with participation from Minister of Health Hosams Abu Meri.
As emphasized by plenary session chair Professor Vilnis Lietuvietis: “Ethical issues in medical practice have always been based on responsibility—toward patients and colleagues. In the past century, another layer of responsibility emerged—toward society as a whole and its general state of health. Today, with the increasing influence of social media and artificial intelligence, it is necessary to establish new forms of communication with both patients and society. The plenary session won’t provide definitive answers, but it will open up a range of questions about shared directions for action so that doctors, patients, and society can find a new balance between rights, responsibilities, discretion, and openness.”
“The Latvian Doctors’ Congress is an important platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange among healthcare professionals, and as a local pharmaceutical manufacturer, we support initiatives that promote the improvement of our healthcare system. During the congress, we will also organize a symposium on clinical research. Clinical trials are a crucial component of science and healthcare, directly impacting the quality of treatment and patients’ access to innovative therapies. We hope that this and similar symposia will serve as bridges for stronger collaboration between doctors, researchers, and the pharmaceutical industry,” says Juris Bundulis, Chairman of the Board of JSC Olpha.
