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On 26 November, President Edgars Rinkēvičs visited the Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC), where he discussed with the Centre’s researchers how their studies and accumulated expertise can be applied to improving Latvia’s healthcare system and enhancing public health management.
“The Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre is clear proof that we in Latvia are able to produce science of great value to society. Here, solutions are being created that allow diseases to be detected earlier, treated more precisely, and health risks to be identified in good time. The Centre’s work strengthens Latvia’s healthcare system and improves people’s quality of life. In future, its knowledge can be applied much more broadly, for example in newborn screening and the early diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.
I would like to thank the Centre’s scientists for their significant contribution. Their professionalism and sense of responsibility provide the foundation for healthcare in Latvia to become smarter, safer, and more data-driven. The knowledge created here enhances our country’s resilience and ability to respond promptly to future health challenges,” said the President of Latvia.
During the visit, President Rinkēvičs and BMC representatives discussed the “One Health” concept – the understanding that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. This approach helps explain how infections emerge and spread, how the environment affects health, and what risks society may face in the future. It provides an essential knowledge base for timely and effective public health protection.
The conversation with researchers also covered the progress of the draft Biobank Law. Biobanks help identify the causes of diseases, develop more effective and personalised treatment methods, and strengthen our ability to respond promptly to new health threats. The President emphasised that, in order to ensure scientific progress and the safe, transparent handling of human samples and data, the Biobank Law must be adopted as quickly as possible.
