The availability of medical care will help eradicate corruption in healthcare - an expert

March 10, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. The accessibility and quality of medical care will help eradicate corruption in the healthcare system. This opinion was expressed today at a round table meeting on the issue of combating corruption by the head of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's healthcare department, Yuri Derkach, a BELTA correspondent reports. "The expansion of paid medical services does not affect the solution to the problem of corruption in the healthcare system. Only by increasing accessibility and improving the quality of medical care can public trust be gained and corrupt practices by the public in this area be reduced," believes Yuri Derkach. In addition, the public's participation plays a decisive role in curbing bribery by doctors, the head added, emphasizing that only an active stance of citizens and their cooperation with law enforcement agencies is the key to solving the issue of eradicating corruption. Yuri Derkach also recalled that in the Vitebsk region, a concept for the development of healthcare for the period up to 2015 is being developed to improve the accessibility and quality of medical services. It will be aimed at improving the demographic situation in the region, introducing modern medical technologies, and improving the material and technical base of medical institutions. -0-