Opinions & Interviews

GOMEL, 10 August (BelTA) – The reconstruction of the Gomel Oblast Children Clinical Hospital has produced outstanding results. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he talked to Gomel residents on 10 August, BelTA has learned.

“A true palace. I cannot describe it otherwise. Cutting-edge technologies, a magnificent hospital,” said the Belarusian head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that similar healthcare institutions had been built in every oblast. This hospital was initially supposed to be built outside the city’s limits. However, Alexander Lukashenko gave instructions to reconstruct and expand the existing institution inside the oblast capital. “Now we can see a beautiful city block with its own garden here,” he said.

“We don’t mind the expense because it is for our children. I am impressed by what they do here [by offering advanced healthcare services]. And it is not the country’s top healthcare institution. It is an oblast capital one,” stressed the Belarusian leader.

Alexander Lukashenko went to see various wings of the hospital. He was made familiar with medical aid standards, talked to medical personnel and parents of little patients. The head of state was assured that the hospital has sufficient potential to provide quality services not only to Gomel residents but to the entire oblast. “Giving optimal service to all the kids is what matters. We will not pinch pennies from kids,” stressed the Belarusian leader.

The president gave instructions to expedite the resolution of a number of organizational issues and told the Gomel Oblast administration to keep an eye on them. The staffing of the healthcare institution with medics was mentioned. The healthcare institution needs to hire people taking into account the availability of modern equipment and technologies. Medical personnel need to live up to higher standards, too. “We have to be frugal with money and spend it where it is necessary – on kids,” noted the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko also gave instructions to more promptly deal with several shortcomings regarding the hospital’s physical infrastructure. The hospital still lacks some modern equipment. “It has to be a superb hospital and the equipment should be on par,” stated the head of state.

While talking to Gomel residents the head of state also drew attention to the need to offer high-quality medical services bearing in mind modern ecological challenges on top of the Chernobyl problems. “Particularly in Europe, in Russia, Ukraine, and so on. The god takes care of us thanks to the ‘dictatorship’ and authoritarianism we are criticized for. But the environmental situation is getting worse. Not all kids are born without pathologies,” said Alexander Lukashenko.