Local foods, food-safety habits, hospital daily life, travel during treatment, the health system, language and emergency numbers from reliable sources.
Keep a translation of your diagnosis, treatment plan and medication list in this language or in English. Many hospitals offer interpreters — ask in advance.
Health system overview
There is a public health system for residents. People insured in another EU/EEA country can get medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); it does not replace travel insurance or cover planned treatment. Visitors from outside the EU need full travel insurance.
Leukemia care: centres
Latvia
Auto + allo
Main centres
Riga East University Hospital, Latvian Oncology Centre, Riga
Transplant: Its hematology and transplantation unit is the only place in Latvia that offers stem cell transplants for blood cancers. Transplants have been done since 2000; the first allogeneic transplant in Latvia was performed in 2006.
Wherever you live, the core rules with low immunity are the same: clean hands, keeping raw and cooked food apart, cooking thoroughly, chilling quickly and choosing pasteurised dairy. At local markets and street stalls, watch how food is stored. Ask your team whether tap water is fine for you; if unsure, use bottled or boiled water.
Hospital daily life
In these countries daily care is usually provided by nurses, meals come from the hospital kitchen and visiting hours are set. If you want to bring food from home, ask the ward first. An interpreter can often be booked in advance.
Travel during treatment
Talk to your care team before planning a trip — timing, blood counts and vaccines.
Carry a doctor’s letter with your diagnosis, treatment plan and medication list (including in English).
Pack medicines in original packaging, in hand luggage, with extra; some medicines have import rules.
Get travel insurance that covers your existing condition and read the terms.
Find the nearest haematology centre and the emergency number at your destination in advance.
Live vaccines can be unsafe during treatment — ask your team before any vaccination.
Ask your team about clot risk on long flights and move around when you can.
For people insured in another EU/EEA country, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay; it does not replace travel insurance or planned treatment.