MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – A conference with the participation of healthcare ministers from 53 countries of the European region will take place in Belarus in October 2015, representative of the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus Elena Bogdan told media on 17 June, BelTA has learned.
According to Elena Bogdan, the World Health Organization praises the healthcare system of Belarus. An international ministerial conference which is due in Belarus in October 2015 testifies to the fact. Among the invitees are healthcare ministers of 53 countries, representatives of international agencies and organizations, including WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNDP, and IARC. “Invited to the conference is WHO Director General Margaret Chan. It will give us an opportunity to search for unified approaches to the WHO further policy in the European region and demonstrate Belarus’ experience,” said the representative of the Healthcare Ministry.
The program will include visits to national medical centers, medical universities, clinics of Minsk.
Elena Bogdan also spoke on the goals of the national healthcare system. The country is currently working on the 3rd national demographic program. Speaking about the preliminary results of the 2nd program, Elena Bogdan noted: “Despite demographers’ forecasts that we are falling into the demographic hole, the number of newborns increases in the country. The natural decline in population has reduced 10 times since 2010. Life expectancy has increased by more than 34 months since 2010, which is a good factor across the globe. Besides, infant mortality rate has been at 3.5 deaths per 1,000 live births over the past years.”
As for access to healthcare, Belarus is ranked first in the world together with Canada and Brunei. “In the quality of healthcare we surpass countries where public financing per capita is 3-4 and even 10 times higher than in our country,” Elena Bogdan said.