Minister: Salaries in Belarus' healthcare in 2022 will not be lower than in 2021

This year salaries of healthcare workers will not be lower than those paid last year, Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich told journalists during the solemn opening of Mogilev Children's Polyclinic No. 1 on 1 June, BelTA has learned.

Answering the question of journalists what contributes to the retention of medical personnel, the minister said: “Salary is an important factor here. In this regard, Decree No. 131 “On financial incentives for healthcare workers” passed by the head of state provided for paying substantial bonuses to frontline healthcare workers. This move was unprecedented. This year salaries of healthcare workers will not be lower than those last year, although the pandemic has already subsided. The head of state gave an instruction to pay bonuses to a wider range of healthcare workers. A respective document will be passed within a short period of time. These bonuses will be highly instrumental in maintaining the level of wages in the healthcare system,” Dmitry Pinevich said.

Rental housing will be another factor contributing to medical personnel retention. Such housing will be provided by the decision of the head of state. “The decision will redefine approaches to rental housing. It will allow healthcare workers to buy such housing at the residual value after working in the healthcare sector a certain amount of time. This is also an important incentive to keep healthcare personnel at their jobs,” he stressed.

Dmitry Pinevich also spoke about continuous professional training of medical personnel. This training also allows them to receive bonuses. In other words, healthcare workers are financially encouraged to improve their theoretical and practical skills. A good working environment is also important. According to the minister, the new beautiful building of Mogilev Children's Polyclinic No. 1 is a vivid example of this.