Opinions & Interviews

Minister: Affordable quality healthcare remains one of Belarus’ priorities

Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry

MINSK, 21 May (BelTA) – The major objective of the Belarusian healthcare system is improving the quality and access to healthcare services, Belarus’ Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko said at the 72nd session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

By 2021 Belarus will complete transition to general practitioners; their workplaces will be equipped with the necessary equipment. “We are changing the format of outpatient clinics by implementing the Caring Outpatient Clinic project, by enhancing teamwork, focus on comprehensive, inclusive and patient-centered care,” Valery Malashko said.

In order to increase efficiency of noncommunicable disease prevention, Belarus is running cancer screening projects. To this end, 26 inter-district screening centers will be set up. Belarus will introduce a so-called health day when employees will be able to take a day off to undergo health checks. Belarus will also implement active longevity programs and promote health-friendly environments. The initiative “Healthy Cities and Villages” got the status of a large-scale government project.

The minister underlined that high technology became a distinctive feature of the Belarusian healthcare. Belarus’ successes in biomedicine, transplant surgery, heart surgery and blood cancer treatment have been acknowledged by the global medical community.

The delegation of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry led by Valery Malashko is taking part in the World Health Assembly that will run through 28 May.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. This year the assembly will focus on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, primary health care towards universal health coverage, lack of medicines and vaccines, and other issues.

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