Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: Doctors will be provided with everything necessary to do their job

MOGILEV, 15 December (BelTA) – The main task of doctors is to treat people, while the government will take care of everything else, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with the staff of Mogilev Oblast Hospital on 15 December, BelTA has learned.

“If we have an extra penny we will spend it on healthcare. Nothing is more precious than life. Your task is to treat people, we will provide the rest, no matter how difficult it might be,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state recalled that in the autumn Belarus received a loan from the Eurasian Development Bank. According to him, initially the money was to be used to bolster the economy amidst the pandemic, but in the end, the most of it was spent to support the healthcare system, in particular, to pay bonuses to healthcare workers. “I thought I would invest this $500 million in the economy to secure GDP growth this year. No country has achieved this. And then the second surge of the infection began ... The money had to be spent not only on bonuses, but also on medicines. If we have extra money, of course, we will give it to healthcare workers, first of all,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state noted that the pandemic delivered a severe blow even to the world’s most powerful economies. Only China has managed to hold its ground. Belarus is also showing good results. “The economy is at the heart of everything. If the economy keeps going, everything will be fine. This year our GDP will be slightly below last year’s, by less than a percent. We tried to sell our products, our agricultural workers deserve the highest praise. In other words, we are doing our best,” the president said.

At the same time, he assured that the Belarusian economy will retain its social focus. “A teacher, a doctor, a worker - they want things to be fair,” the head of state added.

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