A Minsk Official Billed Belarusians For A Doctor's Visit

Is free healthcare being abolished?

A visit to a general practitioner costs the Belarusian government 45 rubles, while a visit to a dentist—assuming no complex treatment is required—costs 70 rubles. These figures were cited in an interview with BT by Yuri Gorbich, chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee’s Health Care Committee.

The official also spoke about hospitalization costs: one day of a patient’s stay in a general ward costs the treasury 430–440 rubles. A day in the intensive care unit, however, is significantly more expensive—about 1,700 rubles—and this amount does not include the cost of medications, equipment depreciation, or medical staff salaries.

Gorbich also addressed the issue of unjustified ambulance calls, lamenting the irresponsibility of some citizens. As an example, he cited cases where paramedics are called for headaches resulting from simple alcohol abuse. In another real-life situation, a patient agreed to be taken to the hospital solely to get a free ride home. Upon arriving at his destination, the man thanked the crew, stated that he lived across the street, and immediately left. The committee chair emphasized that the main problem with such calls isn’t even the cost (although each ambulance dispatch costs the budget more than 240 rubles), but in the fact that at that very moment, doctors might be needed elsewhere to save someone’s life, since it is impossible to predict the exact number of emergencies.

As is customary, the TV report emphasized that medical care in the country is free for patients. At the same time, the propagandists predictably failed to mention that the state budget, which funds healthcare, is financed by taxes paid by Belarusians themselves.

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