MINSK, 29 December (BelTA) - Spending on healthcare in 2021 will amount to almost 4.6% of GDP in Belarus, Belarusian Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov told reporters in Minsk on 28 December, BelTA has learned.
“Expenditures on healthcare will be be almost 4.6% of GDP. Some 5 to 6 years ago we were thinking about keeping the consolidated budget expenditure on healthcare at 4% of GDP. Apparently, these costs will continue to increase steadily,” Yuri Seliverstov noted.
According to the minister, spending on education will also increase as the government will continue raising salaries in these two budget-intensive industries.
Yuri Seliverstov recalled that salaries in the budget-financed sectors will rise as early as 1 January 2021. The decision to raise the base rate has already been made. The ministries have also taken measures to raise salaries of low-paid workers.
"Next year, the budget expenditures on salaries and payments (scholarships, allowances, pensions) will increase by an additional Br1.5 billion," Yuri Seliverstov added.
He stressed that the 2021 budget will remain socially oriented, despite the fact that the revenues of the national budget will decrease due to the impact of the pandemic and the decline in exports.
The budget deficit is estimated at about Br4 billion, according to Yuri Seliverstov. It will be compensated through the existing domestic reserves.
