NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – It is necessary to fix shortcomings in the training of medical personnel. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave the relevant instruction at a government conference held on 23 May to discuss the most pressing healthcare issues, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Another revelation for me was the insufficient level of training and professionalism of doctors. Somehow it does not mesh with the demand for our specialists not only in Russia but also in Europe. It is necessary to work out a system to hold university rectors accountable. They are untouchable.”
The president was informed that doctors operating at the district level have been studying high technologies intensively for the last few years. “Who are trying to deceive? What high technologies have they mastered? About 15 years ago at my level we approved all the procedures they have to perform. Starting with rural health posts, medical district hospitals and ending with national applied science centers. We made up our minds,” Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded.
He noted that a number of high-tech surgeries are gradually becoming available at the oblast level. But the list of procedures available in district hospitals remains roughly the same. “Keep an eye on people. Help them. As for seriously ill patients, we have come to an agreement, we have created interdistrict centers and have practically finished equipping them. If, for instance, the Shklov hospital cannot clean up its act, then there is Mogilev 30km away. We have come to an agreement, we have created a system. Why doesn't it work?” the Belarusian leader wondered.
The head of state said he wanted to hear what is wrong with the qualification and training of medical personnel, what the reasons are, and how medical universities underperform. “Shouldn't national applied science centers, oblast hospitals provide methodological assistance to these specialists, train and control them? Shouldn't they help treat seriously ill patients in a timely manner?” Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered. “There is no need to haul a bunch of them to [the Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education] BelMAPO for advanced training. Bring them to national applied science centers. And pay those, who will train these district-level doctors, doctors from oblast hospitals and so on. They should be taught over there! With a scalpel and an endoscope in their hands. So they would see how it is done. And so that they could do these complicated surgeries and procedures and could learn what the top doctors can do. We have an absolute breach between these top-tier applied science centers and the medium and bottom tiers.”
Once again the president underlined the importance of providing quality healthcare at the bottom and medium tiers. “Listen, don't you understand that our parents are over there? You will not keep government jobs for ever. We will soon go away and will become ordinary people. Don't you understand that we will face this situation? We will be treated in exactly the same manner,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
