The Latvian Ministry of Health (VM) is currently evaluating the necessity of implementing mandatory diagnosis codes on sick leave forms in order to enhance data collection on the primary causes of work incapacity. The ministry has explored four different approaches, including the use of free-text analysis on sick leave forms and manual matching of sick leave documents with patient ambulatory tickets. Additionally, the ministry is developing a self-service reporting tool which will allow trained users to generate anonymized reports, thus reducing the need for manual adjustments in data handling. This tool is part of a broader project aimed at improving the management of data within the healthcare process.

Currently, the system is in a transitioning phase where manual data matching is employed to gather preliminary signals about trends related to sick leave. The ongoing project aims to provide a sustainable solution by offering repeatable reports and systematized data matching integrated with quality control mechanisms. The intention is to refine the data acquisition process and improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of sick leave management within the healthcare system.

As this analytical tool progresses, user training sessions will be conducted, ensuring that relevant stakeholders are equipped with the knowledge to utilize the new systems effectively. The insights gathered from this evaluation could have significant implications for policy adjustments concerning sick leave regulations and improvements in health data management in Latvia.