More than 70,000 people recovered in the health resorts of the Vitebsk region last year.

This once again demonstrates that our sanatoriums are becoming more and more firmly established, finding their niche and their clients, knowing in which direction to move forward, how to earn and how to spend money.

As Elena Andreichikova, Head of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium-Resort Treatment of the Population, told us, sanatoriums have invested over 35.8 billion rubles of their own funds solely in the development of their material and technical base. Thanks to the fact that living conditions are becoming more comfortable, and the medical base is constantly being updated and replenished with new equipment and modern methods, Belarusian health resorts continue to remain attractive not only for compatriots but also for foreign citizens. In 2012, residents of near and far abroad purchased over 28,000 vouchers (in 2011 – over 25,000), or about 40 percent of the total number sold. This allowed the health resorts to earn the funds necessary for further development – 14 million dollars.

Last year, the reconstruction of the residential building and the construction of a medical facility with a swimming pool at the "Zhelezhnodorozhnik" sanatorium of the Vitebsk branch of the Belarusian Railway continued. At the "Lesnye Ozera" health resort of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, the club was renovated and a dining hall with a buffet-style service was equipped, 5 log houses were built, and the construction of a swimming pool was started. At the "Borovoe" sanatorium of the Administration of Affairs of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the territory was landscaped, medical equipment worth one billion rubles was purchased, and a workshop for the production and bottling of "Borovaya" mineral water was launched.

It should be noted that while there is a huge demand for recreation from foreigners, Belarusians are not left behind. The Vitebsk Regional Department of the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium-Resort Treatment of the Population continues to purchase vouchers, which are subsequently distributed among enterprises and institutions of the city. Pensioners and children are not forgotten. Annually, more than half of the child population of the republic aged 3 to 18 years are provided with sanatorium-resort treatment and health improvement using state funds. More than 80 percent of budget funds are allocated for these purposes. Moreover, a voucher to a children's sanatorium for a child is issued free of charge, and to a mother and child sanatorium - with a 50 percent surcharge.

— From February 1, our health resorts began booking places for the summer period, — noted Elena Borisovna. — Therefore, for everyone who is already thinking today about where and how to spend the summer, I strongly recommend taking care of vouchers in advance.

"VR"