Lukashenko instructs to accredit healthcare institutions by year-end

MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – Healthcare institutions must be accredited by the end of this year in a bona fide manner, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a government conference to discuss the pressing issues in healthcare, BelTA has learned.

Irina Abelskaya, Chief Physician with the National Medical Center at the Belarusian President Property Management Directorate, who was in charge of the interdepartmental working group, reported on the results of the audit into the efficiency of the healthcare system.

Irina Abelskaya raised the issue of accreditation of healthcare institutions. According to her, the current approach is formalistic and does not have an impact on the work of healthcare institutions. In some cases, being the only ones in their localities, they continue to function no matter the shortcomings.

The president demanded to ensure an unambiguous approach to the accreditation of healthcare institutions, since the quality of care depends on their physical condition. It is important that these institutions, even in remote regions, meet certain standards.

"Whether to accredit or not accredit is not an issue for them... Neither the president nor Igor Petrovich [Sergeyenko, head of the President Administration] will go there for surgery. These institutions get accredited despite them falling short of standards. Accrediting agencies do not care how they will perform surgeries: minimally or maximally invasive or with a scalpel," the president said.

"Aleksandr Nikolayevich [Kosinets], please take this issue under your control. This is your area of expertise. By the end of the year all medical institutions must be accredited in a bona fide manner. If they fall short in terms of physical infrastructure, they must fix these shortcoming. If they lack medicines, specialists, or something else, give them time to fix these things too and accredit them by the end of the year. Take this issue under control and see this through, in compliance with your strict principles" the head of state said.