Invitation

Anniki Lai Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs of the Republic of Estonia

7 November 2025

1/1125-314 Invitation to the conference of the Baltic Assembly “Health as an investment in Baltic security and future” on 12 December in Riga, Latvia

Dear Ms Lai, On behalf of the Baltic Assembly, I am pleased to invite you to the conference of the Baltic Assembly “Health as an investment in Baltic security and future” to be held on 12 December at the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in Riga. The Baltic States, like much of Europe, are not yet fully benefiting from health innovation. Despite its potential to improve well-being and economic prosperity, limited adoption leads to poorer outcomes and greater strain on healthcare systems. In the Baltic States, healthcare remains underfunded and viewed as a cost rather than an investment, slowing recovery and economic growth. This conference aims to foster regional cooperation and promote the societal value of innovation, a concept that goes beyond cost-effectiveness to reflect health, economic, and social impact. By using data and evidence in policymaking, participants will explore how innovation can guide better resource allocation, as well as ensure sustainable pricing and informed legislative decisions. The conference will bring together parliamentarians, government officials, and experts to strengthen healthcare as a driver of socioeconomic growth, while upholding human rights and equitable access to care and innovation.

Please, find attached the programme of the conference. The members of the Baltic Assembly would be honoured if you would accept this invitation and confirm your attendance by 28 November 2025 at the latest by filling in the registration form here: https://forms.gle/NADZWFh7ZzUowJUo7

Sincerely yours,

Jānis Vucāns

President of the Baltic Assembly

For further information, please contact the BA Secretariat at [email protected]

Draft, 06/11/2025

1

Conference of the Baltic Assembly

HEALTH AS AN INVESTMENT IN BALTIC SECURITY AND FUTURE 12 December, Riga (Latvia)

Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Jēkaba str. 6/8, Baltic Hall

Thursday, 11 December

Arrival and accommodation of the delegations Pullman Riga Old Town Jēkaba str. 24

19:00 Dinner for the members of the Baltic Assembly

Friday, 12 December

09:00 Registration and morning coffee

09:30 Opening

⎯ H.E. Ms Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, TBC

⎯ Mr Jānis Vucāns, President of the Baltic Assembly

⎯ Ms Antoņina Ņenaševa, Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly

10:00 Keynote presentation “The impact of healthcare on demographics and national security in the Baltic States”

⎯ Dr Malina Müller, Head of Health Economics of the WifOR Institute, TBC

10:30 Moderator: Elīna Vrobļevska, Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rīga Stradiņš University Panel 1 – Social and economic value of health The panel discussion aims to answer the following questions: 1) How does the burden of disease affect the economy and employment in the Baltic States? 2) How to calculate the public value of healthcare? 3) How to integrate public value into policy decisions? The discussion will also feature health as a security factor from an international perspective (the NATO and EU approach to health security). Panel discussion

⎯ Ms Irja Lutsar, Vice Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly, Estonia, TBC

⎯ Mr Saulius Čaplinskas, Vice Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly, Lithuania, TBC

⎯ Ms Karina Palkova, Ombudsperson, Latvia, TBC

⎯ Dr Malina Müller, Head of Health Economics at the WifOR, TBC

⎯ Mr Karl-Henrik Peterson, Interim CEO of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, TBC

⎯ Mr Oļegs Krasnopjorovs, Chief Economist at the Bank of Latvia, TBC

Draft, 06/11/2025

2

Discussion with the audience

11:50 Coffee break and networking

12:20 Moderator: Elīna Vrobļevska, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rīga Stradiņš University Panel 2 – Path to socially responsible health policy

The panel discussion aims to answer the following questions: 1) How to turn data into

policy instruments? 2) How to strengthen Baltic cooperation and data governance? 3) How to integrate public value approaches into budget and pricing decisions? 4) What hinders the introduction of innovative approaches in policy? What approaches work in the Baltic States (e.g. financing mechanisms)? The discussion will also feature a debate on demographics, maternal and youth health as a strategic investment in national security.

⎯ Mr Hosams Abu Meri, Minister of Health, Latvia, TBC

⎯ Ms Karmen Joller, Minister of Social Affairs, Estonia, TBC

⎯ Ms Marija Jakubauskienė, Minister of Health, Lithuania, TBC

⎯ Ms Maija Āboliņa, Director of the Department of the State Audit Office, Latvia, TBC

⎯ Mr Juris Beikmanis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Alliance for Rare Diseases, TBC

Discussion with the audience

13:40 Summary and roadmap Summary by the chair of the conference

Additional for the participants of the conference

Expected results of the discussions:

1. Increased awareness among policymakers of the public value approach in health and welfare policy 2. Policy recommendations based on disease burden data in the Baltic States 3. Strengthened cooperation between the Baltic States in the use of data and access to health

innovations 4. A roadmap for future steps to make health innovation a driver of economic growth 5. Emphasis on the link between health and security:

o Physical and psychological health of conscripts as the foundation of national defence

o Mother and child health as the cornerstone of demographic security o Health as a factor in long-term economic stability and national security

Discussion questions for the audience:

• How can the state balance its defence and health budgets, viewing health as part of security?

• Can investments in public health be as strategically important as military spending for long- term sustainability?

• How can health innovations help young people and conscripts maintain their physical and mental resilience?

Anniki Lai Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs of the Republic of Estonia

7 November 2025

1/1125-314 Invitation to the conference of the Baltic Assembly “Health as an investment in Baltic security and future” on 12 December in Riga, Latvia

Dear Ms Lai, On behalf of the Baltic Assembly, I am pleased to invite you to the conference of the Baltic Assembly “Health as an investment in Baltic security and future” to be held on 12 December at the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in Riga. The Baltic States, like much of Europe, are not yet fully benefiting from health innovation. Despite its potential to improve well-being and economic prosperity, limited adoption leads to poorer outcomes and greater strain on healthcare systems. In the Baltic States, healthcare remains underfunded and viewed as a cost rather than an investment, slowing recovery and economic growth. This conference aims to foster regional cooperation and promote the societal value of innovation, a concept that goes beyond cost-effectiveness to reflect health, economic, and social impact. By using data and evidence in policymaking, participants will explore how innovation can guide better resource allocation, as well as ensure sustainable pricing and informed legislative decisions. The conference will bring together parliamentarians, government officials, and experts to strengthen healthcare as a driver of socioeconomic growth, while upholding human rights and equitable access to care and innovation.

Please, find attached the programme of the conference. The members of the Baltic Assembly would be honoured if you would accept this invitation and confirm your attendance by 28 November 2025 at the latest by filling in the registration form here: https://forms.gle/NADZWFh7ZzUowJUo7

Sincerely yours,

Jānis Vucāns

President of the Baltic Assembly

For further information, please contact the BA Secretariat at [email protected]

Draft, 06/11/2025

1

Conference of the Baltic Assembly

HEALTH AS AN INVESTMENT IN BALTIC SECURITY AND FUTURE 12 December, Riga (Latvia)

Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Jēkaba str. 6/8, Baltic Hall

Thursday, 11 December

Arrival and accommodation of the delegations Pullman Riga Old Town Jēkaba str. 24

19:00 Dinner for the members of the Baltic Assembly

Friday, 12 December

09:00 Registration and morning coffee

09:30 Opening

⎯ H.E. Ms Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, TBC

⎯ Mr Jānis Vucāns, President of the Baltic Assembly

⎯ Ms Antoņina Ņenaševa, Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly

10:00 Keynote presentation “The impact of healthcare on demographics and national security in the Baltic States”

⎯ Dr Malina Müller, Head of Health Economics of the WifOR Institute, TBC

10:30 Moderator: Elīna Vrobļevska, Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rīga Stradiņš University Panel 1 – Social and economic value of health The panel discussion aims to answer the following questions: 1) How does the burden of disease affect the economy and employment in the Baltic States? 2) How to calculate the public value of healthcare? 3) How to integrate public value into policy decisions? The discussion will also feature health as a security factor from an international perspective (the NATO and EU approach to health security). Panel discussion

⎯ Ms Irja Lutsar, Vice Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly, Estonia, TBC

⎯ Mr Saulius Čaplinskas, Vice Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly, Lithuania, TBC

⎯ Ms Karina Palkova, Ombudsperson, Latvia, TBC

⎯ Dr Malina Müller, Head of Health Economics at the WifOR, TBC

⎯ Mr Karl-Henrik Peterson, Interim CEO of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, TBC

⎯ Mr Oļegs Krasnopjorovs, Chief Economist at the Bank of Latvia, TBC

Draft, 06/11/2025

2

Discussion with the audience

11:50 Coffee break and networking

12:20 Moderator: Elīna Vrobļevska, lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rīga Stradiņš University Panel 2 – Path to socially responsible health policy

The panel discussion aims to answer the following questions: 1) How to turn data into

policy instruments? 2) How to strengthen Baltic cooperation and data governance? 3) How to integrate public value approaches into budget and pricing decisions? 4) What hinders the introduction of innovative approaches in policy? What approaches work in the Baltic States (e.g. financing mechanisms)? The discussion will also feature a debate on demographics, maternal and youth health as a strategic investment in national security.

⎯ Mr Hosams Abu Meri, Minister of Health, Latvia, TBC

⎯ Ms Karmen Joller, Minister of Social Affairs, Estonia, TBC

⎯ Ms Marija Jakubauskienė, Minister of Health, Lithuania, TBC

⎯ Ms Maija Āboliņa, Director of the Department of the State Audit Office, Latvia, TBC

⎯ Mr Juris Beikmanis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Alliance for Rare Diseases, TBC

Discussion with the audience

13:40 Summary and roadmap Summary by the chair of the conference

Additional for the participants of the conference

Expected results of the discussions:

1. Increased awareness among policymakers of the public value approach in health and welfare policy 2. Policy recommendations based on disease burden data in the Baltic States 3. Strengthened cooperation between the Baltic States in the use of data and access to health

innovations 4. A roadmap for future steps to make health innovation a driver of economic growth 5. Emphasis on the link between health and security:

o Physical and psychological health of conscripts as the foundation of national defence

o Mother and child health as the cornerstone of demographic security o Health as a factor in long-term economic stability and national security

Discussion questions for the audience:

• How can the state balance its defence and health budgets, viewing health as part of security?

• Can investments in public health be as strategically important as military spending for long- term sustainability?

• How can health innovations help young people and conscripts maintain their physical and mental resilience?