MINSK, 9 December (BelTA) – The Healthcare Ministry of Belarus and the World Health Organization have reaffirmed their commitment to the joint fight against tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases, Belarus' Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich told reporters after he met with Head of the WHO Country Office in Belarus Masoud Dara, BelTA has learned.
Belarus has a rather big number of cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis, “therefore, this issue should also be addressed,” Dmitry Pinevich noted. The fact that the country office is headed by a world-renowned professional in this area is extremely important, the minister added. In particular, Masoud Dara helped open the WHO Collaborating Center for the Introduction of New Drugs and Regimens for the Treatment of Multidrug- and Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) at the National Research Center for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis in Minsk.
Non-communicable diseases are also high on the agenda. The STEPS study is on the home stretch now and the outcomes are expected to be available in 2021. According to the minister, the population aging brings a number of other issues to the fore, in particular the delivery of health services in oncology, orthopedics and other areas.
“We are entering the five-year period with new socio-economic targets, a new program document titled “Public health and demographic security”. Our experience of working with WHO in the fight against non-communicable diseases has shown its effectiveness at the previous stages, and it will form the basis for joint cooperation in the next five years,” Dmitry Pinevich said.
The minister also spoke about the efficiency of using public funds and grants in the healthcare sector. According to him, Belarus is one of the most transparent countries in this regard, which was acknowledged at the WHO level. Belarus is ready to share its expertise and knowledge in this field with other states.
The minister also explained the benefits of the inclusion of Belarus into a voluntary licensing agreement between ViiV Healthcare and the Medicines Patent Pool. Dmitry Pinevich noted that the cost of certain drugs to treat HIV patients will decrease significantly. In other words, quality medicines will be available at much lower prices. The respective negotiations took almost three years. Over this time Minsk welcomed representatives of the largest pharmaceutical companies.
Dmitry Pinevich also said that the country has applied for inclusion in the WHO Executive Board.
The first official meeting of Dmitry Pinevich and Masoud Dara took place at the Healthcare Ministry on 9 December. Top on the agenda was cooperation in combating COVID-19.
