Working trip to Minsk Oblast

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made a working trip to Minsk Oblast on 8 December. The head of state visited the Stolbtsy Central District Hospital.

Chief physician of the hospital Svetlana Glebko told the head of state about the organizational structure of the institution, its logistics and personnel.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that from now on the focus will be placed on the employer-sponsored training of medical personnel. “We need to make clear decisions. We train a lot of specialists but healthcare institutions still suffer from staff shortages,” the President stressed.

The head of state added that special attention will be paid to the development of inter-district hospitals. There are four such hospitals in Minsk Oblast: in Borisov, Molodechno, Soligorsk and Slutsk. “We want to transfer many surgeries to inter-district hospitals from the research and practice centers of Minsk, regional hospitals, and to improve the quality of services in inter-district hospitals,” he said.

The chief physician spoke about the treatment of coronavirus patients. There are currently 121 patients with COVID-19 at Stolbtsy Central District Hospital. According to Svetlana Glebko, the coronavirus incidence has decreased over the past few days. In November, 20 patients were registered per day. Over the past days there have been 12 such patients per day.

“A decline from 20 to 12 cases is a very good showing. Let us hope that we have hit the plateau. After all, the number of case is reducing,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

At the meeting with doctors the head of state recalled that some journalists tried to cause tensions in Stolbtsy in the spring and told people lies about the situation in the district. “I just want to thank you, you in particular. You turned out to be politically strong people. It wasn’t easy, but you did it. You are just great. If you need any help, we will try to help,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President explained that he came to Stolbtsy to find out how coronavirus patients are treated at the district level. “As far as I remember, we repaired, expanded and refurbished this hospital. An ordinary district hospital has become unusual thanks to you. The chief medical officer asks just one thing: that this hospital be a reference hospital at least in the field of trauma. We will consider this matter,” Aleksandr Lukashenko promised.

The head of state said that having visited the hospital in Stolbtsy, he once again saw that the situation with coronavirus in the country is complicated, but absolutely under control.

The head of state stressed that Belarus has established a rather effective healthcare system and there is no need to break it. Cutting-edge care is provided at the level of national research centers. A step below are regional hospitals, inter-district centers. According to the President, it is important now to share the experience and knowledge of doctors from national research centers with doctors in the regions. Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that specialists who perform sophisticated surgeries receive certain bonuses.

“This is meant to encourage you to grow up the career ladder,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the efficiency of the inter-district centers. The President believes that a trauma center providing specialist medical care can be set up in Stolbtsy Central District Hospital. The head of state also promised renovation and re-equipment of other district hospitals in the country. “We have already repaired healthcare facilities almost everywhere. Nearly everything is at a decent level, probably except some district hospitals. We will completely refurbish them during this five-year period … We will get them into shape. However, the most important thing is to fully equip them,” the Belarusian leader said.

We will equip your hospital. Just do not flee to Poland,” the President added with a degree of humor.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the state is investing a lot in the healthcare system. At the same time the head of state urged everyone to take great care of their own health and to live a healthy life. “Free medical care contributes to the fact that people do not take care of their health,” he said.

Speaking about salaries in the healthcare sector, the head of state noted that due to coronavirus bonuses for frontline healthcare workers, the average salary of doctors has already reached the target stipulated by the five-year plan. The current task is to keep it up after the end of the pandemic.

When answering doctors’ questions, the President proposed to give the All-Belarus People's Congress a constitutional authority.

"I am not sure whether you will support it or not but I think the Belarusian People's Congress should become a constitutional body. We need to have such a body that would supervise the main areas of the country’s development," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the President, the agenda of the Belarusian People's Congress will be  finalized after the Christmas holidays. The event will be held in late January - early February. “We need to approve the pans for the next five years, the way we will be moving forward in the social and economic development. The main thing is the economic development and we will be working on this. People need to know the goals for five years ahead. The second issue is politics. You suggested it yourselves: the Constitution and so on,” the head of state noted.

The head of state also proposed to elect delegates for a five-year term. They will work on a voluntary basis. At the same time, their role and status will be enhanced greatly: speakers of parliament, ministers and governors will be accountable to them.

“If we remove some presidential responsibilities, we have to transfer them somewhere. These powers are not suitable for the government and parliament. Who do we vest them with? We have to look for such a body. We have the Belarusian People's Congress. Therefore, some powers will have to be transferred,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “If we dilute the powers of the President and vest them with the parliament, the government, ministers and governors, we will face a complete chaos, like the one we experienced in the mid-1990s. Therefore, we need a stabilizing authority. It will act on behalf of the people, labor collectives. This is not a duplicate of the deputy corps. I am in favor of you making decisions on everything. The people need to decide," he added.

Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the decision of the International Olympic Committee to suspend the Belarusian President and the National Olympic Committee of Belarus from the Olympic Games.

“We need to take legal action. Let [IOC President Thomas] Bach and his ilk tell me what my fault is. Is it about me protecting my country?! The overwhelming majority of you support me in this policy. I protect my country. I protect you. Why punish me by banning me from some events?... I have not attended the Games for 25 years. I guess I can live with that. Why do they do this? Have they convened the entire International Olympic Committee, all the member states, more than a hundred of them, to discuss the matter? They are afraid of sticking their neck out because of COVID-19,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“It’s okay with me, but why involve my children?” the President said. “What sanctions have they introduced after all? Not to invite to events? I have not attended them for 25 years and I will survive it. I was most outraged by their decision against my children. This is absolutely groundless,” the head of state added.

The President recalled the IOC decision taken in 2016 to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee from the Paralympics in Brazil. “Do you remember when they all went against Russia? The United States commanded them to attack and they were happy to obey. Let's see whether Russia will support us,” the Belarusian leader said.

“What a ‘just’ world we are living in!... Remember: there is no justice in the world. If you pursue a fair policy, you will be rejected by everybody. You will be the enemy,” the head of state said.