Lukashenko pledges pay rise for healthcare providers

MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has promised a pay rise for healthcare providers as he visited the National Research Center for Neurology and Neurosurgery on 28 January, BelTA has learnt.

“Yes, we will increase salaries, optimize the system and cut off what we do not need, but be ready for tougher requirements,” the President said. “There will be high requirements for both teachers and doctors,” the head of state said.

“Stop nagging that our doctors are penniless, poor and so on. It is time for doctors to show higher efficiency. Everybody gets the same education, everybody is in equal conditions, but not all medical facilities can boast luminaries like Smeyanovich,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The President unveiled plans to come to grips with the situation in the healthcare sector in the coming spring. He noted that salaries might be increased by means of a bigger export of medical services, among other things. However, the bigger export should not harm the interests of Belarusians, the head of state said.