LATVIA
General Information - Demographics
Latvia has a population of 2.4 million inhabitants and is a member of the European Board of Urology (EBU). There are 60 Urologists (1 urologist per 40,000 inhabitants) and 6 Residents (1 resident per 10 urologists).
National Urological Society & Residents Organization
| Title | Latvian Urological Association | - |
| President |
Dr. Egils Vjaters |
- |
| URL | - | |
| Email address | - | |
| Members | 58 | - |
National Communication Officers
| Name |
Ivars Kukulis |
 Andris Abele |
| Address |
Sviteres Street 7 Riga, LV 1064 Latvia |
Pilsonu Street 13 Riga, LV 1002 Latvia |
| Tel. No. |
(371)
|
(371)
|
| Fax. No. |
(371)
|
(371)
|
| Cell. No. |
(371)
|
(371)
|
| Status | Elected | Elected |
General information
The Republic of Latvia was founded in 1918. It has been continuously recognised as a state by other countries since 1920 despite occupations by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945). On August 21, 1991 Latvia declared the restoration of its de facto independence. Latvia has a population of 2.3 million inhabitants. Official language is Latvian.
Latvian Urological Association (LUA) is a member of European Board of Urology (EBU). Individual urologists are active members of European Association of Urology (EAU). There are 58 certified urologists (1 urologist per 39 000 inhabitants) and 5 residents (1 resident per 11 urologists).
Urological training
There are two universities offering higher medical education and full residency program in Latvia – Riga Stradins University and University of Latvia. It takes 6 years in general medicine to graduate the university followed by 5 years residency in urology split by 2 years in surgery and 3 years in urology.
2 years in surgery includes: general surgery, proctology, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, oncology, gynaecology.
3 years in Urology includes: general urology, additional employment in anaesthesiology, dermatology, endocrinology, radiology, urologic oncology, pathology, microbiology, nephrology, renal transplantation.
The specialty of urologist is awarded after completion of residency training followed by oral and practical examination. Every 5 years urologist has re-certification examination.
Career prospects
Upon residency completion urologists have opportunity to continue working in hospital, health centre or open the private praxis. Majority urologists consult both in-patients and out-patients.
Job opportunities in regional hospitals comparatively to capital are better, because of higher number of free vacancies.
The ratio urologists vs. inhabitants is 1:39000, therefore increase of urologists work places isn’t planed at the moment.
Every year Latvian urologists participate in European and World Urologist Congresses to be aware of actualities in urology.
Fellowship - Research Opportunities
Latvian urology residency training program isn’t certified in Europe.
There are 2 university centres where urological residents are trained.
Residents have opportunity to visit urological hospitals abroad. Up to now we have not participated in any European student exchange programs.
National links
Latvian
Urological Association
http://www.lua.lv
Riga
Stradins
University
http://www.rsu.lv
University of Latvia
http://www.lu.lv
The Latvian Institute
http://www.li.lv
This page was last updated:
2006-07-24
European Society of Residents in Urology
