Senator Yury Derkach: "Medicine must be accessible and of high quality"

Recently, a "direct line" with the residents of the Vitebsk region was held by Yuri Derkach, a member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the Healthcare Department of the Regional Executive Committee. In breaks between phone calls, we also had the opportunity to talk with the senator.

– Yuri Nikolaevich, you became a member of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Education, Science, Culture and Social Development. Has the range of issues you deal with expanded since your election to parliament?

– A comprehensive approach has always been and continues to be required in healthcare matters. Their resolution affects all aspects of people's lives. Many factors influence a person's health: do they have a good job with a decent income, do children attend preschools within reach (if a kindergarten is near home, there is a higher chance the child will not get sick during an epidemic), do they have the opportunity to get an education, what is the environmental situation, and much more. Nothing is new to me. Understanding the situation on the ground allows me to identify in legislative projects what needs to be done to improve the quality of life and the accessibility of social services. It is difficult to distinguish in what capacity I interact with people during meetings and "direct lines": as a deputy, as the head of a department, or as a person who cares about the problems of their neighbor.

Recently, residents of the village of Grigorovichi, Lepel district, approached me. They told me that the school, shop, and post office had been closed in the settlement, and now, it seems, it was the FAP's turn. We went to the site. Indeed, only the paramedic-midwife post remained in the huge building. We informed people that it is not planned to be closed, and at the same time, together with the local authorities, we discussed how to use the vacant premises. Ideas for serving the population emerged. There are plans to create new jobs, revive farms there in the form of a subsidiary farm, which

присоединить к детскому реабилитационному центру «Жемчужина», выращивать бычков. И мясо к столу будет, и работа для людей. Это пример того, что без комплексного подхода, создания модели проблему не решить.

– С какими еще проблемами к вам обращаются?

– Очень разными, но многие так или иначе связаны со здоровьем. Например, пенсионеры жалуются, что при обращении по телефону в регистратуру их просят подождать на линии, а за лишние минуты приходится платить. Почему бы не сделать звонок в поликлинику и больницу бесплатным? Это надо обсудить. Как сенатор я имею возможность активно работать с руководителями предприятий как коммунальной, так и республиканской собственности, с инвесторами.

– С вашей точки зрения, какие из законопроектов, находящихся на рассмотрении, самые важные?

– Всё, что касается законодательной базы, важно. Если не будут созданы правовые условия, любая работа будет неэффективна.

 – Вы как представитель здравоохранения не лоббируете интересы своего ведомства?

– Конечно, хотелось бы, чтобы все больницы и поликлиники были на высочайшем уровне, строились новые, закупалось современное оборудование. Но, зная реальные возможности общества, налогоплательщиков, надо разумно определять, что важнее, в том числе и в здравоохранении. Наглядный пример – возведение поликлиники в новом микрорайоне Витебска Билево. Такой объект нужен, и он есть в плане. Но сегодня необходимо все просчитать. Новая поликлиника рассчитана на 60 тысяч, на такое количество город не прирос, произошло переселение из одного района в другой, и сегодня в Билево проживает 20 тысяч. Поэтому мы сочли целесообразным на первом этапе открыть здесь врачебные амбулатории, а к тому времени, когда микрорайон расширится, возведем поликлинику.

В этом году сделано немало в плане создания материально-технической базы здравоохранения Витебщины. Введены в эксплуатацию

the infectious diseases ward of the regional infectious clinical hospital, the therapeutic ward of the regional children's clinical center, the building of the regional center for hygiene, epidemiology and public health, a mineral water pump room at the "Zhemchuzhina" children's rehabilitation and health center. Modernization of the Rossonskaya and Sennomskaya central district polyclinics has been carried out, repairs have been made to two women's clinics in Vitebsk, departments for newborns in the regional children's center, the therapeutic department in the Shumilinskaya Central District Hospital, the infectious diseases department in the Miorckaya Central District Hospital, the children's department in the Braslavskaya Central District Hospital, the admission department, the laboratory, the emergency medical service department in the Ushachskaya Central District Hospital, the women's clinic and the surgical unit of the polyclinic in the Lepelskaya Central District Hospital. And this is not a complete list.

In recent years, modern medical equipment worth 96.4 million devalued rubles has been purchased. In particular, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanners, a mammograph, angiographic complexes, an apparatus for lithotripsy (for crushing stones without skin damage), a bacteriological laboratory for determining the sensitivity of microflora to antibiotics has been created, and X-ray equipment has been updated in almost all central district hospitals.

As part of the implementation of the State Comprehensive Program for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Oncological Diseases, a linear electron accelerator, a computed tomography scanner, a brachytherapy apparatus, an X-ray simulator, etc. have been purchased. As a result, screening examinations are successfully carried out in the region, which allows for the detection of precancerous diseases and oncological pathology at early stages. Since last year, the region has been operating the only mobile diagnostic complex in the republic, which has already visited all districts of the Vitebsk region.

In

practical healthcare has implemented over 200 complex and, in some cases, unique diagnostic and treatment methods. Aortic, kidney, and corneal transplants are performed. With the acquisition of specialized cardiosurgical video endoscopic equipment, minimally invasive cardiosurgical operations have become available to patients, which reduces recovery times, significantly lowers the risk of complications, and allows for a faster return to an active life. Our region has the highest rate of full rehabilitation in the republic and the lowest rates of primary disability and disability severity among working-age individuals. Medical examination indicators are criteria for assessing the quality of medical care at all levels and characterize the health status of the population.

Full conditions for effective medical rehabilitation and health improvement for children and adults have been created in the Vitebsk region. There are 40 rehabilitation departments operating, the largest of which are "Zheleznyaki" of the regional cardiology dispensary, "Krupenino" of the regional diagnostic center, "Lyos" of the Orsha central polyclinic, "Yurtsevo" based at the hospital for disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic War, and children's rehabilitation and health centers "Zhemchuzhina" in Lepel district, "Vetraź" in Postavy district, and "Raduga" in Liozno district.

– Can it be said that our region is well-regarded in terms of medicine?

– I remember when we, medical students, were taught how to detect a heart defect by listening. Today, a Doppler sensor is used, which clearly determines the size of valve mismatch. With the help of a computer or magnetic resonance imaging scanner, one can see what is happening inside a person. However, technology is not the deciding factor. Our closest Russian neighbors (Smolensk and Pskov regions) have acquired a large amount of expensive equipment. Yet, people still come to the Vitebsk oncology dispensary for diagnostics. This is because our medical professionals have extensive experience and can see what others might miss, even with precise technology. Vitebsk is a university city, and

here highly qualified specialists are concentrated.

A multi-level system of medical care has been created in Belarus, which effectively uses equipment and reduces costs. For example, one expensive positron emission tomograph is sufficient for the republic; if necessary, we send patients to Minsk. Hematological and biochemical analyzers located in our regional children's clinical center allow for 2-3 thousand tests to be performed simultaneously. Why have similar equipment in every clinic? Blood samples are taken there, sent to the center, and the results are transmitted back via the internet.

By the way, the Vitebsk region was the first in the republic to switch to an "electronic prescription," which has been implemented in all regions. This system is fully integrated with the existing information and communication infrastructure, ensuring remote targeted exchange of medical information. However, it doesn't matter who was first; the main thing is to ensure the accessibility and quality of medical care. The lowest number of appeals and complaints to all authorities is an indicator of how people perceive this.

– We cannot ignore the problem of long-term construction projects, particularly hospitals in Miory and Orsha. After all, you are also approached about this, aren't you?

– These and other facilities have been included in the regional healthcare development plan, which was approved in January of this year. This is a real program that clearly outlines where to get resources. The other day, a meeting was held with business representatives, and preliminary work has been done on an investment project that will allow the Miory hospital to be completed in 2017. There is talk about providing a Chinese loan. I am grateful to the chairman of the regional executive committee, Nikolai Nikolaevich Sherstnev, who facilitated the allocation of all funds earned by healthcare institutions next year to complete the oncology department. In addition to providing paid services, including export services, optimization of the system has yielded considerable funds. In particular, after the unification of all women's clinics into a single

the polyclinic and its affiliation with the regional maternity hospital have led to a reduction in staff, economic services, and accounting departments. Instead of 7 chief physicians, only one remains. The same happened with the creation of the regional children's center, which includes 6 polyclinics, a hospital, and the "Raduga" health camp. The saved funds are directed towards the development of the healthcare system and the implementation of new technologies, which in turn lead to cost reduction. This results in a double effect. The program for 2016-2020 was developed relying on our own capabilities, therefore, we are confident that it will be fulfilled.

– We wish you success! And health to all of us!

– Taking this opportunity, I congratulate everyone on the upcoming New Year and Christmas holidays.

Tatyana Pasteranok. Photos by Anton Stepanishchev and Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye Vesti".