Executive Committee Meeting: In 2021, the Vitebsk region's healthcare sector intends to eliminate the shortage of narrow specialists
According to him, there is currently a shortage of narrow specialists in the region's medical institutions. "Next year, it will be eliminated. Staff turnover in the Vitebsk region is the lowest, and the level of training and retraining of specialists is high," noted Yuri Derkach.
In the northern region, almost all target indicators of the State Program "People's Health and Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus" for 2016-2020 have been achieved. The exceptions are two categories: accidental alcohol poisoning and mortality of working-age population. Family capital has been granted to 1.4 thousand families during the program's operation. "Reorganization of obstetric care has been carried out. The Vitebsk Regional Maternity Hospital, inter-district maternity hospitals in Orsha and Novopolotsk, as well as maternity departments have been established. This structure has allowed for significant resource savings and ensured comprehensive medical care. This experience will be replicated throughout Belarus," said Yuri Derkach.
The Head of the Main Healthcare Department drew attention to the reduction in the number of abortions and infant mortality due to external causes. If in 2010, every 10th woman decided to continue her pregnancy after pre-abortion counseling, then in 2019, it was every fifth woman. "We plan to close maternity departments in districts where fewer than 100 births per year are registered, redirecting expectant mothers to the inter-district level. Currently, two districts may be subject to this – Dokshitsky and Verkhnedvinsky," specified Yuri Derkach.
This year, a children's medical outpatient clinic is planned to open in the Bilevo microdistrict of Vitebsk. In 2020-2021, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners will be supplied to healthcare facilities in the Vitebsk region. This year, Lepel will receive a CT scanner, and Polotsk will receive an MRI scanner. An agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Health and the World Bank for the procurement of MRI scanners for Glubokoye (a CT scanner will also be installed in this city), Orsha, Lepel, and Braslav. Additionally, based on public-private partnership, MRI and CT scanners will operate at the inter-district cardiology center in Miory. Construction of this center is planned to commence this year.
The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, drew attention to certain aspects of medical professionals' work. These include cases where individuals from districts are refused admission to healthcare facilities in Vitebsk, as well as unprofessional attitudes towards patients. "Residents face these problems daily. Medical professionals need to cultivate a positive image and change their approaches to interacting with people," the governor added. "This year, work must begin on the program for the future five-year plan, identifying priorities for the development of healthcare in the Vitebsk region, taking into account the region's specifics."