Belarusian government criticized for poor state of affairs in healthcare

MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted a meeting to discuss the most pressing healthcare issues in the country and spoke about the things that surprised him the most, BelTA has learned.

Earlier, an independent working group was set up on the instruction of the head of state. It was composed not of government officials but specialists in the field of medicine. They traveled across Belarus and confirmed many of the negative issues raised by people. "I have detailed reports on my desk from the expert group and regulatory authorities," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “You don't think that the work will end with this group. We have laws and they must be observed. The Prosecutor's Office executes control over the uniform and exact observance of laws in Belarus. We have a powerful watchdog, namely the State Control Committee. It acts on behalf of the authorities and people. They studied the situation in healthcare. And they reported."

The president said that, in response to this, the government sent him a letter signed by the prime minister and deputy prime minister. "But we will deal with it separately. Probably, they forgot where they work. This is typical for the government in almost all areas. I don't need formal letters. This applies to the government and governors, central authorities," the Belarusian leader stressed.

"I have studied these materials and you know what surprised me the most? The fact that there are still glaring problems in hospitals, polyclinics, rural healthcare clinics: walls and ceilings are falling apart, basic sanitary rules are not observed. Listen, any healthcare facility should be an example of sanitation. This happens even in pediatric departments that treat children! Are they not your children? Of course, they are not. But they are my children!" Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

There are also cases of expensive modern equipment standing idle. "Sometimes this is the only chance to save someone's life!" the head of state noted.

He also said that there are issues of spare parts for such equipment. "Meanwhile the healthcare minister report to me that things are fine in healthcare and that there are no problems with spare parts. Some government officials cite the sanctions as the reason for some problems. You cannot invoke sanctions to justify the drawbacks," Aleksandr Lukashenko.