Yury Derkach, Head of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Healthcare Department: 'The law will be enforced when society itself is interested in its implementation.'

– A code is understood as a set of laws and rules aimed at preserving the health of the population, taking into account the efforts of the state, labor collectives, local government bodies, and, most importantly, the individual themselves.

– These issues were generally envisaged in the implemented National Program for Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015; quite good results were achieved, including an increase in the birth rate through strengthening the institution of the family, preferences for childbirth, and other measures taken.

The current State Program "Health of the People and Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus" for 2016-2020 is notable for paying a lot of attention to the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular, endocrine, and oncological pathologies, which play a significant role in the structure of population mortality. Preventive measures aimed at reducing the consumption of salt, sugar, and eliminating harmful factors such as smoking, alcohol, and drug use will also yield the necessary results.

In our country, and in the Vitebsk region in particular, a set of measures is being implemented aimed at reducing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, preventing and early detection of oncological pathology, diabetes mellitus, preventing and overcoming drunkenness, strengthening the institution of the family, and popularizing physical culture and sports. As a result, this should form citizens' responsibility for their health, and society's readiness to respond to the legislative authority's message in adopting the Health Code.

For example, today in Vitebsk, many sports grounds are being created and continue to be equipped, street exercise machines are appearing in courtyards, and sports and recreation complexes are being built in district centers. This practically step-by-step accessibility allows motivating people to engage in physical culture, and the population, seeing the resources they can use, is gradually drawn into an active lifestyle.

To be effective, the new health document must have prepared ground. Otherwise, even with the material and technical base, a high level of medicine and other services, but without people's awareness, we will not be able to do anything.

– Is the population's awareness in this regard, in your assessment, gradually changing?

– Definitely. Today, people's education level is growing, and intellectual potential is one of the important motivational factors for maintaining health.

It should also be understood that living conditions are improving. For example, fresh fruits and vegetables are available on our tables year-round, whereas in the past, only preserved foods, with salt as the main preservative, were consumed in winter. Doctors have high-quality medications and modern medical technologies at their disposal. Domestic healthcare has many developments and achievements in treating serious diseases such as myocardial infarction, stroke, tumors of various localizations, and injuries, minimizing their negative consequences, and consequently, preventing disability. The result is an improvement in the quality and an increase in life expectancy. For instance, before the advent of antibiotics, the average life expectancy did not exceed 40-50 years, while now it reaches over 73.

– But without healthcare professionals, much of this would not be possible. What is the staffing situation in the region? And does the number of graduates from Vitebsk State Medical University and other specialized educational institutions meet the region's needs?

– Yes, the main asset of our healthcare system is knowledgeable, experienced, and talented specialists. Currently, over 6,000 doctors and 15,000 healthcare workers with secondary medical education are employed in the sector.

As a result of the ongoing personnel policy, the provision of medical staff has improved, and staff turnover has significantly decreased. This has allowed for strengthening the primary healthcare system with young specialists and staffing healthcare organizations, especially in rural areas, with narrow-specialty physicians. The demand for medical personnel will gradually decrease.

There are four medical universities in the republic that graduate 3.5-4 thousand specialists annually, while the projected need for physicians is only 2.5 thousand.

For the Vitebsk region, a replenishment of a maximum of 170-180 doctors per year is sufficient, and the number of graduates from Vitebsk State Medical University exceeds this need by 2 to 3 times.

The Head of State has repeatedly stated that we must train the number of specialists required by the economy. We cannot allow a graduate with a medical profession to be unable to find employment. They will be forced to either work outside their specialty, which is unlikely for a doctor, or, more likely, leave for another country where they can find professional application, and this is already a loss for the republic.

Therefore, our task now is to train new personnel in accordance with existing needs. For example, for three years now, we have been conducting an optimal enrollment of students in medical colleges in Polotsk, Orsha, and the regional center.

At the same time, the issue of personnel retention remains relevant. This requires the creation of certain conditions, including housing provision and infrastructure development, which is most relevant for small towns and rural areas, so that young people and their families can live there, develop, realize their professional potential, and establish themselves as individuals. The President of our country pays special attention to these issues. We see how towns and villages where "Dazhynki" events are held are improving, and large-scale transformations are being carried out in the towns of Kopys and Baran of Orsha district: kindergartens are being built, schools, healthcare facilities, and other social facilities important for people are being modernized.

– Nevertheless, one of the decisive factors for a young specialist, and in fact for any employee, remains the financial issue. How can the average salary of one thousand Belarusian rubles by the end of the year, set by the Head of State, be achieved for medical workers in the region?

– Since 2010, the healthcare sector in the region has been systematically optimized to improve the accessibility and quality of medical care. The optimization is comprehensive and well-thought-out, taking into account the pace of economic development of the region.

Healthcare in Vitebsk and Vitebsk district, Orsha and Orsha district, Polotsk, Polotsk district and Novopolotsk has been merged. This has made various diagnostic and treatment methods, including high-tech ones, more accessible to the rural population by leveraging the potential of urban healthcare facilities.

Integrated healthcare facility structures have been created, combining outpatient and inpatient stages of medical care. One of the largest is the Vitebsk Regional Children's Clinical Center. This has allowed for the concentration and maximum effective utilization of human resources, scientific potential, high-tech equipment, medical rehabilitation, and children's health improvement.

The women's clinics in Vitebsk have been reorganized and integrated into the Regional Clinical Maternity Hospital. This enables centralized and comprehensive monitoring of women, including pregnant women, at all stages of their medical care.

Consequently, the need to duplicate many auxiliary departments, such as accounting, the planning and economic department, the human resources service, and others, has been eliminated.

A rational distribution of types and volumes of medical care provided at the district, inter-district, city, and regional levels has been carried out. The efficiency of hospital bed utilization has been improved, allowing for increased funding of the outpatient and polyclinic sector by reducing costs associated with expensive inpatient care.

The optimization and restructuring of the sector have ensured the release of resources necessary for the introduction of new effective types of medical services.

Currently, over 200 high-tech diagnostic and treatment methods for various diseases are applied in the practical healthcare of the region. This helps to reduce patient hospitalization time, achieve better treatment outcomes, and enhance export orientation.

Extrabudgetary activities are another source of increased wages for healthcare professionals. As a result, the average salary of a doctor in our region is currently almost 900 rubles, a nurse - 600, and orderlies - about 400 rubles.

– What are the most significant draft laws currently being considered by the Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus for Education, Science, Culture, and Social Development, which you are a part of?

– One of the most important topics under consideration, in my opinion, concerns motivation for childbirth and the creation of additional conditions for young families. A draft law was recently considered to ensure that women with more than one child who are on maternity leave receive additional payments for other minor children. State support for families with children is gradually increasing. And this is more relevant than ever. Belarus is experiencing a decrease in the number of women of active childbearing age, as the small generation of the 1990s has begun to enter it. A gradual decline in the birth rate is registered in all regions. We have managed to compensate for this negative trend by increasing the number of second, third, and subsequent children born, in which preferences for large families play a significant role.

In addition, many clarifying legislative documents are being considered. I would like to note that there are many nuances in the legislation that the public itself draws attention to through the deputy corps, and proposals received from the people are submitted for consideration. Such feedback is extremely important. I believe that any law will be enforced when society is interested in its enforcement.

Natalia Ryzhkova. Photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV.

"Vitebskiye Vesti".