MOGILEV, 19 October (BelTA) – Ways to improve living standards in Belarus are discussed at dialogue platforms, Igor Kasko, member of the Standing Commission for Education, Science, Culture and Social Development of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, told journalists on the sidelines of the dialogue platform dedicated to social matters. The meeting was held at the Mogilev regional methodological center of folk art and cultural and educational work on 19 October, BelTA has learned.
“Today participants of the dialogue platform have reviewed social issues, including science, healthcare, education, culture, sports, tourism, environment and many more. Each of our sections discussed these issues at various institutions and government agencies. There is always a discussion inside. Dialogue platforms should focus on the most relevant matters that will be later formalized in the form of legislative acts to improve our life. Today we have tried to put together the issues that need not only discussion, but also a detailed study. For example, as far as the healthcare sector is concerned, we have considered amending the healthcare financing system, improving the quality and availability of medical care and increasing the efficiency of the use of funds allocated for the healthcare sector,” Igor Kasko said.
According to the MP, Belarus' healthcare system strives for excellent outcomes. “We have one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, low maternal mortality, a high level of transplantation activity. Healthcare in Belarus has made great strides. We need to use the financial resources more efficiently, we need to find a middle ground that will allow us to provide quality healthcare services and achieve high results. This is more of an economic component of the healthcare sector. Top on the agenda of the meeting was the relationship between private and public healthcare. Private healthcare is now making great progress and we need to come up with an appropriate interaction mechanism,” Igor Kasko said.
In addition to healthcare, the participants of the dialogue platform discussed social inclusion of people with disabilities. “A lot has been done in Belarus to engage children and adults with multiple developmental disabilities in social activities,” said Andrei Rutsky, Director of the Social Services Center of Oktyabrsky District of Mogilev. “However, as such people grow up, their parents often cannot provide them with adequate care and support. Currently, we have no alternatives to psycho-neurological boarding facilities. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the possibility to enable people with intellectual disabilities to keep living in a usual social environment even after their parents pass away. Such people can live separately, however, they need help. Assisted living and assistant services are now available to people who have no relatives and people of the first and second disability groups who live alone, but such assistance is available for no more than 60 hours per month. We propose to expand such services,” he said.
Education reforms were also discussed. The head of the main education department of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee Andrei Zablotsky put forward a number of proposals, including additional tests after primary school. “Those who have higher academic performance are to proceed to the 10th grade and further to the university, and the rest will be offered vocational training. Now we need highly-qualified blue-collar workers,” Andrey Zablotsky said.
In total, more than 20 experts took part in the work of the dialogue platform.
