Meeting of the Regional Headquarters for Combating the Spread of COVID-19: on payments to medical workers, reduction of incidence, and sanatorium-resort rehabilitation of those who have recovered
On May 13, at a regular meeting of the regional headquarters for countering the spread of coronavirus infection, the effectiveness of the established response system to the threat was analyzed, and emerging new issues were discussed.
- We see that the incidence rate has been declining over the past two weeks, -- said Nikolai Sherstnev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, opening the discussion, -- the problem is not escalating. We need to carefully examine the implementation in the Vitebsk region of Presidential Decree No. 131 on material incentives for medical workers involved in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Negative information has appeared in the press that someone was underpaid, someone was wronged. Are all categories of workers prescribed in the document taken into account, are there no offended people, so that we do not turn a good deed into a negative initiative?
By the way, students of VGMU, who came to the aid of their senior colleagues in this situation and are employed in the positions of mid-level healthcare professionals, also receive the due allowances upon meeting the criteria of the decree. For them, this is not an internship, but a full-fledged job.
The current morbidity situation and the course of patient treatment were also discussed in detail at the headquarters meeting. According to Mikhail Vishnevetsky, over the week, the incidence of respiratory infections in the region decreased by 16 percent, with the adult population accounting for 69.3 percent of those who are ill. Since the end of April, the number of patients with pneumonia receiving inpatient treatment has decreased by 20 percent in the region, and by 29 percent in Vitebsk. This made it possible to carry out sequential disinfection of medical facilities to minimize the possible impact of hospital-acquired infections on patients and staff, and to give the latter a respite. And the medics are returning to intensive work again. While the number of pneumonias is still quite large with positive dynamics, it is not necessary to massively withdraw hospitals from the infectious profile. From May 18, only the oncology dispensary will return to receiving specialized patients. Then, one of the buildings of the regional clinical hospital is planned.
We would like to add that in accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, the Ministry of Health is working on categories of citizens who will be subject to sanatorium and resort treatment after severe pneumonia. All such patients are now being selected by name from databases by medical institutions.
- We see that the incidence rate has been declining over the past two weeks, -- said Nikolai Sherstnev, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, opening the discussion, -- the problem is not escalating. We need to carefully examine the implementation in the Vitebsk region of Presidential Decree No. 131 on material incentives for medical workers involved in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Negative information has appeared in the press that someone was underpaid, someone was wronged. Are all categories of workers prescribed in the document taken into account, are there no offended people, so that we do not turn a good deed into a negative initiative?
Mikhail Vishnevetsky, Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee, provided explanations on the issues raised.
- From May 5 to May 19, salary payments for April are being made, which already include the bonuses provided for by the decree. We prepared for this work, held seminars for the economic services of medical institutions, explaining the procedure for calculating bonuses. (The document provides for two criteria: bonuses are due to those who directly worked with infected COVID-19 patients, and the time worked is also taken into account). Then we collected the questions that arose, and provided answers. However, since some employees still have uncertainties, it is recommended to contact the planning and economic service of the regional healthcare department to resolve all nuances.
- From May 5 to May 19, salary payments for April are being made, which already include the bonuses provided for by the decree. We prepared for this work, held seminars for the economic services of medical institutions, explaining the procedure for calculating bonuses. (The document provides for two criteria: bonuses are due to those who directly worked with infected COVID-19 patients, and the time worked is also taken into account). Then we collected the questions that arose, and provided answers. However, since some employees still have uncertainties, it is recommended to contact the planning and economic service of the regional healthcare department to resolve all nuances.
By the way, students of VGMU, who came to the aid of their senior colleagues in this situation and are employed in the positions of mid-level healthcare professionals, also receive the due allowances upon meeting the criteria of the decree. For them, this is not an internship, but a full-fledged job.
The current morbidity situation and the course of patient treatment were also discussed in detail at the headquarters meeting. According to Mikhail Vishnevetsky, over the week, the incidence of respiratory infections in the region decreased by 16 percent, with the adult population accounting for 69.3 percent of those who are ill. Since the end of April, the number of patients with pneumonia receiving inpatient treatment has decreased by 20 percent in the region, and by 29 percent in Vitebsk. This made it possible to carry out sequential disinfection of medical facilities to minimize the possible impact of hospital-acquired infections on patients and staff, and to give the latter a respite. And the medics are returning to intensive work again. While the number of pneumonias is still quite large with positive dynamics, it is not necessary to massively withdraw hospitals from the infectious profile. From May 18, only the oncology dispensary will return to receiving specialized patients. Then, one of the buildings of the regional clinical hospital is planned.
- We cannot relax yet, - the head of the regional health department emphasized once again, - the epidemiological situation in the Vitebsk region, despite all the stability, remains complex. From April 1 to May 12, more than 5400 patients who have recovered from pneumonia were discharged. 308 medics who have had coronavirus infection have started working. I would like to once again appeal to the residents of the Vitebsk region with an urgent request to comply with all preventive measures, including social distancing. This is one of the conditions for the positive dynamics to continue and be firmly established.
We would like to add that in accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, the Ministry of Health is working on categories of citizens who will be subject to sanatorium and resort treatment after severe pneumonia. All such patients are now being selected by name from databases by medical institutions.