All Belarusians enjoy ‘practically equal’ access to healthcare, Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at the meeting with WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab on Wednesday.
In contrast to some other countries, in Belarus no one will be left to ‘die in a ditch’ if they have no health insurance, the Belarusian leader stressed.
Lukashenka also showed off the country’s healthcare achievements, in particular the decrease in maternal mortality rates, birthrates and infant mortality rates, state-run news agencyBelTA reports.
But, according to Lukashenka, such approach to healthcare has spoilt Belarusians to a certain extent as it does not encourage people to care for their health.
“Everything is for free, the state carries every citizen in its arms. I reiterated that everyone should take care of their health as it costs a lot of money to the state. Healthy lifestyle and sports are promoted in Belarus. People are encouraged to give up unhealthy habits,” he said.
The health issues were discussed at the WHO European Ministerial Conference on the Life-course Approach in the Context of Health 2020 in Minsk on October, 21. The event is dedicated to the new WHO policy health 2020. It is a large-scale action plan aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
