Over Br500 billion is planned to be allocated in 2013 for the modernization of medical institutions in the Vitebsk region

Свыше Вr500 млрд. планируется выделить в 2013 году на модернизацию медучреждений Витебской области

Over Br500 billion is planned to be allocated in 2013 for the modernization and reconstruction of medical institutions in the Vitebsk region, the Vitebsk Regional Health Department informed a BELTA correspondent.

This year, the construction of the therapeutic building of the emergency hospital and two blocks of the regional clinical hospital will be completed. The reconstruction of the regional psychiatric and infectious disease hospitals will be finished. A three-story extension to the Vitebsk Regional Children's Clinical Hospital will be commissioned. The construction of a polyclinic in the "YUG-7" microdistrict in Vitebsk will continue.

In 2012, Br280 billion was spent on major repairs and the renewal of the material base of healthcare facilities. The major projects of last year, according to the regional health department, include the major repair of the Vitebsk City Central Children's Polyclinic and the Sharkovshchyna Central District Hospital. In total, last year more than eighty medical facilities were commissioned, 36 of which were in rural areas.

Serious transformations in the region's healthcare system have saved Br17 billion. Medical care has been primarily shifted to the outpatient and polyclinic level: such treatment is less expensive and yields economic benefits. The export of medical services has doubled compared to 2011. In general, the non-budgetary income of medical staff amounted to approximately one-tenth of the budget financing, which made it possible to increase salaries and allocate part of the funds for the purchase of equipment and the implementation of new technologies in regional clinics.

Capital investments in medicine have affected the demographic situation in the region. The average life expectancy in the region in 2012 was 71 years. Overall mortality has significantly decreased, especially among people of working age – by 1 per mille. There was no maternal mortality.