PETRIKOV, 25 April (BelTA) – Healthcare facilities should be optimized, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during his visit to the Petrikov Central District Hospital, BelTA has learned.
The head of state first inquired about the facility’s structure. He was informed that the hospital network includes 2 community hospitals, 22 feldsher-midwife stations (FAPs), and 7 general practitioner outpatient clinics. This prompted a discussion about how efficient and well-justified such a structure really is.
“We need to figure this out so we don’t waste extra money,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized. “I’m not in favor of shutting down FAPs and community hospitals. But we need to do it where it’s necessary.”
For example, in areas where the population is declining, part of community hospitals’ infrastructure could be turned into round-the-clock nursing homes for the elderly.
Speaking about FAPs, the president noted that they are vital to people, particularly in rural areas. He isn’t pushing for any one solution; instead, he stressed that decisions must be grounded in practicality and common sense.
After a brief report, the head of state toured the maternity and gynecology wing of the Petrikov Central District Hospital, where he spoke with medical staff and patients.
Constructed in 1993, the building was extensively renovated and modernized in 2021-2022. It now houses a gynecology department, obstetrician-gynecologist offices, a cardiotocography room, a day-care unit, a delivery room, and other key facilities for women.
“Excellent conditions. Nothing is too good for the women who give birth,” the head of state said commenting on the facility.
The hospital’s gynecology department has been headed by Muhammad Fadi Bahlawan for 11 years. The man has obtained Belarusian citizenship; he has a wife and three children. “Under no circumstances should we let him go back to Syria. We understand that they need help there, and we are ready to provide it. But we’re not letting you go back,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president had a cordial conversation with patients who are expecting to give birth very soon. “May I step into this sacred room? How are you feeling about giving birth?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked the women with a smile as he entered one of the wards. The women replied that they were feeling positive and were in excellent spirits.
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