Lukashenko suggests shifting focus from building new facilities to improving people’s well-being
President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the grand opening ceremony of children’s policlinic № 9 in Minsk, noting that in the process of further development of the healthcare system, it is necessary to shift the focus from the construction of new facilities to improving the well-being of people
Addressing the participants of the event, the Belarusian leader said, “Today is a significant day for all those present: both healthcare workers and especially those living in this area.”
The President noted that the opportunity to visit such a holiday arouses special feelings, “Here, special feelings are connected with the fact that we are opening this facility for our children.”
The Head of State warmly thanked builders for their enthusiasm in building this facility, “A beautiful, comfortable and very necessary, as they convince me, polyclinic was built within just two years.”
At the same time, the Head of State wondered whether we build too many cultural, sports, and healthcare facilities, “Probably, too many anyway. But this doesn’t refer to our children. Children are a special case.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled what he spoke about more than a year ago, “We need to seriously revise everything that we have built in the social sphere. It may even be worth walking or driving an extra kilometre to get to polyclinic but to use the money saved on the construction of schools and hospitals, on the improvement of the well-being of people.”
The Head of State drew attention to the fact that most of the allocations from the budget are directed to the social sphere, “We took such a course to build a social state. This is the point, first of all.”
At the same time, allocations for healthcare are distributed for the construction of new facilities, the purchase of medicines and equipment, and wages for employees. It is possible to increase costs, but then it will be necessary to raise taxes. This is not the best option. The Head of State noted, “We need to figure out where to get the money in order to raise wages for our healthcare workers in general. I said that we need to tighten up a little bit with the construction of new buildings... I repeat once again that the city of Minsk and the Healthcare Ministry should think about it.”
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that despite all the difficulties, not a single task of developing the healthcare sector has been suspended.
