Vitebsk region healthcare: ongoing construction projects will be completed, a polyclinic will appear in Bilevo, and medics' salaries will be increased

The level of modern medicine is incomparable to what it was five to ten years ago. This sector does not stand still. Today, we have modernized healthcare facilities equipped with high-tech equipment and qualified doctors at our disposal. At the same time, an important criterion is preserved – free medicine. All this is the result of a correctly chosen development strategy for the sector in 2010-2013. What else needs to be done by 2015 to complete the modernization of the healthcare system was discussed at a regular meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

The figures eloquently speak about the serious steps taken to develop medicine in the region: over three years, 644 billion rubles were spent on construction and installation work, and 125.3 billion rubles were spent on equipment in 2013 alone. That is, the modernization of medical institutions, as noted by the chairman of the regional executive committee, Alexander Kosinets, is not a spontaneous phenomenon, but a planned, targeted process. Every year, the regional budget provides funds for improving the material and technical base of the healthcare system and introducing innovative technologies, which ultimately allows for strengthening people's health and prolonging their lives.

As reported by Yuri Derkach, head of the healthcare department of the regional executive committee, over the three specified years, 84 out of 105 facilities, the construction, reconstruction, and major repair of which were planned before 2010 (some of them had been long-term construction projects for 15-20 years), have been commissioned. Of the 173 facilities planned after 2009, 155 have been commissioned, with 15 of them equipped with high-tech, expensive equipment.

In 2010, the main funds were directed to rural healthcare facilities: a total of 76 facilities were commissioned, 66 of them in agro-towns. Then, the focus was on improving the level and expanding the range of medical care provided at the district level. This made it possible to relieve the burden on regional institutions, focus efforts on introducing new technologies and methods, and begin modernization and re-equipment. As a result, it was possible to significantly reduce the volume of care provided outside the region, i.e., in republican centers.

– As of today, Vitebsk is a clinical city, capable of providing any volume of medical care, – believes Alexander Kosinets.

Much is being done to modernize the regional clinical hospital, the regional children's clinical hospital, the oncological, cardiological, and psychoneurological dispensaries, and healthcare facilities in Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk. It should be recalled that in 2012, the Sharkovshchina District Hospital, which the region's residents had been waiting for 15 years, was commissioned. Work has begun on the 25-year-long unfinished construction of the Miory District Hospital, which will be completed in 2015.

The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee noted that the accessibility of healthcare facilities must also be considered. Firstly, to prevent residents of the western regions from having to travel to Vitebsk for more complex types of diagnostics and treatment, it is necessary to strengthen the inter-district link with equipment and specialists. Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and in the future, Miory can serve as such centers. Secondly, a large residential microdistrict "Bilevo" was built in Vitebsk, and the entire burden of providing medical care fell on Polyclinic No. 3, which creates certain inconveniences.

– This should not happen. In 2014, no matter how difficult it may be, we will begin the construction of a comprehensive polyclinic in the Bilevo-2 microdistrict. In the future, we will consider this issue: for example, in the new Luchesa microdistrict, a polyclinic will be built in parallel with the construction of residential buildings, – noted Alexander Kosinets.

The Vitebsk region is the only one in the country that has managed to meet the social standard for the number of hospital beds per 1,000 population, which has led to the optimization of the sector and cost savings. This is an additional source of funding for the healthcare system, as is the provision of paid services to foreign citizens. By the way, the export of medical services in 2013 amounted to 4,762.2 thousand US dollars. Extra-budgetary funds are directed towards the development of the material and technical base and an increase in the salaries of medical workers. At the same time, the governor emphasized that the percentage of payments to doctors from paid services, who directly conduct appointments and surgeries, should be higher. Yuri Derkach noted that in January 2014, due to resource savings resulting from industry optimization, it was already possible to increase the salaries of all contracted medical workers by 13%.

Regarding the problem of ensuring a sufficient number of specialized doctors in district centers, the head of the healthcare department reported that many experienced doctors have already undergone retraining and have at least two specialties. In addition, the intake into medical educational institutions has been increased. In general, this issue will be resolved by August of the current year. Alexander Kosinets urged to pay more attention to the educational base of medical students, provide them with the opportunity to practice on the latest equipment, and develop innovative thinking.

The construction of the Vitebsk Regional Children's Clinical Hospital building, the therapeutic building No. 1 of the Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital, the centralized sterilization unit of the Regional Clinical Hospital, the therapeutic building of the Vitebsk City Emergency Medical Care Clinical Hospital, and the main building of the Novopolotsk Central City Hospital is nearing completion. In 2015, it is planned to commission the therapeutic building of Semashko City Hospital No. 1, a polyclinic in the YUG-7 microdistrict in Vitebsk, and the Miory District Hospital. All facilities require about 600 billion rubles, of which 250-300 billion are equipment costs.

Based on the analysis of morbidity, the development of the cardiology sector is currently a relevant issue for the region. In this regard, the acquisition of four angiographic complexes is planned for the regional clinical hospital, the regional cardiology dispensary, and medical institutions in Novopolotsk and Orsha. It is planned to acquire equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders. As part of the implementation of the State Comprehensive Program for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Oncological Diseases for 2011-2014, equipment worth over 213 billion rubles was acquired; by 2015, the oncology dispensary will reach international standards.

One of the priority tasks is to reduce mortality from external causes, where timely medical assistance is crucial. In this regard, work is underway to update the vehicle fleet and equip it. In 2012-2013, the ambulance service was replenished with 64 vehicles, of which 57 were "Volkswagen Crafter" with the necessary equipment and modern means for express diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. In January, Vitebsk region will receive 4 more reanimobiles.

The measures taken have significantly increased the birth rate and reduced mortality in Vitebsk region, thereby improving the demographic situation. And as is known, all sectors of life and the stable future of the region depend on this indicator.

Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye Vesti"