Militia armed with assault rifles against sick woman

The administration of the TB hospital has inadequate reaction to the protest of patients against bad conditions in the hospital. Instead of solving the problem they threaten the patients with discharging, and set militiamen with assault rifles against those who have already been unlawfully discharged.

As Radio Racyja has learnt from Natallya Drabysheuskaya, who was urgently discharged from the TB hospital in Bahusheusk for her complaint of ban conditions on 19 May, there appeared rumours that the former patient came back to hospital.

– The patients phoned to me and told the administration had called the militia, closed down the department, and set two militiamen with assault rifles to guard every entrance to the building, – Natallya Drabysheuskaya says.

According to the TB hospital patients, who phoned to Natallya in secrecy, the conditions haven’t changed, but the medical staff has more negative treatment to the patients:

– The conditions are difficult, but no one protests openly, because they are afraid, – Drabysheuskaya tells. – The chief doctor threatens that “everyone, who will protest, can follow the Drabysheuskis,” in other words, they will be thrown out of the hospital.

The woman is a disabled, and she must undergo medical treatment for the medical commission to confirm her disability. But now, when even militia guard is set against her, she can’t hope for it. She is in desperation now.

In the meantime, efforts of Natallya Drabysheuskaya to establish order in the hospital weren’t been wasted. The Syanno district procuracy informed the TB sick woman her complaint at unjustified actions by the administration of the hospital would be examined in the Vitsebsk region health care department. The commission from the department is to visit the hospital in Bahusheusk as far as on 30 May.

It should be reminded that patients of the Bahusheusk TB hospital (the Vitsebsk region) protest against awful conditions and bad treatment of the medical staff towards them. There are 500 people in the hospital, though it is designed only for 320 persons.

67 people died in hospital due to insanitary conditions and bad meal for a year. Today 100 (70 men and 30 women) TB sick people, who are mentally ill, are kept behind the bars and have no care.

Most active people, who openly express dissatisfaction, are urgently discharged from hospital. Valer and Natallya Drabysheuskis, who have open tuberculosis, were discharged on 19 May. Theyhave two minor children and may threaten their health. In this connection Natallya Drabysheuskaya filed a complaint to the region prosecutor’s office and the health care department.

It should be reminded that early in the year 150 TB sick people had hunger strike in Navaelnya hospital (the Dzyatlava district, the Hrodna region).