Annika Jaansoo - Valga Municipality, EE

„Cross-border healthcare between the twin cities of Valga and Valka” is the title of the Advice Case submitted by the Valga Municipality (EE-LV) in the framework of the initiative b-solutions. The case received support from Annika Jaansoo who examined in detail the obstacles faced by the cross-border hospital of Valga concerning the provision of medical services to the patient residing in the area.

Jaansoo’s analysis shows that problems arise due to a lack of administrative coordination between the competent authorities in the two countries which results in differences concerning the reimbursement of the costs for medical services.

The solution proposed considers the signing of an agreement between the Estonian and Latvian National Health Funds and the Valga Hospital. This would allow to adapt the systems of reimbursements to the actual needs of the local population.

Furthermore, she suggests to include Latvian partners in the governance of the Valga Hospital, which, by now, is composed only of Estonian actors.

Granting the hospital of a special status to allow for lump sum financing, facilitate patient information exchange and promoting language accessibility is also recommended.

To learn more on this Advice Case, Annika Jaansoo’s final report is available here.

The information here provided have been developed in the framework of b-solutions, an initiative of the European Comission’s DG REGIO managed by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR).

The reports here included are the result of a consultation provided by legal/cross-border cooperation experts on obstacles of a legal or administrative nature– referred to as Advice Cases - selected in the framework of the II Call for Proposals of the initiative b-solutions.