Heads of the legislative and executive branches of Government, Heads of state administrations of cities and regions of the republic, chairmen of local councils, parliamentarians, as well as senior staff of the Ministry of Health, chief doctors of healthcare institutions and representatives of medical institutions have been invited to participate in the meeting on healthcare initiated by the President. The agenda included three issues: summing up the results of 2019, plans for the 2020 and presentation of the draft Concept of healthcare development for the medium term. The keynote speaker is profile minister Alexei Tsurkan. According to him, according to the results of the past year, the population of the republic amounted to 465 225 people (a hundred more than the indicator of 2018). Life expectancy increased slightly and amounted to more than 68 years for men, almost 77 for women. Fertility decreased by 10.3%, mortality - by 3%. More than half of the deaths (58.2%) are associated with diseases of the circulatory system, followed by neoplasms, diseases of the digestive system, trauma and poisoning in the overall structure. At the same time, the Head of the department noted that for example a number of insults to the brain decreased by 37%. Two times less than in 2018, the mortality associated with road accidents. Diseases of the nervous system take more lives (an increase of 34.1%). The mortality rate due to myocardial infarction also increased (+ 7.2%). Alexei Tsurkan considers that this statistical growth is associated with an increased detection of the disease.
As for the activities of the ministry, summing up its results for the year, the Head emphasized that it was largely connected with the development of the draft Concept for the Development of Pridnestrovian Health Care until 2026. In parallel, work is underway on local program documents and plans. Among them, there is program of medical examination of the population. Alexei Tsurkan, outlining its main areas, said that in a pilot mode it will be launched this year, and in full force - in 2021. A document has been developed that spells out state guarantees for providing free medical care to citizens (2020-2022). A new salary system for healthcare workers is being introduced, which implies an increase in salaries in 2020 by 15-30%. Preparatory work has been carried out for the creation of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of Pridnestrovie. Plans for the reconstruction of a number of large medical facilities have been prepared. The work begun last year to expand and strengthen the primary health care sector continues. An electronic appointment is already being made in the clinics of the capital. This practice will be distributed throughout the republic. It is planned by the summer to form and launch a nationwide electronic registry of doctors. Increased attention is paid to the emergency medical service (development program is designed for five years).
Alexei Tsurkan spoke not only about state programs, but also about new types of medical care provided and expected to be provided in the near future on the territory of Pridnestrovie. The speaker noted the expansion of the list of diseases to be treated at public expense abroad, noting that a number of citizens who received such assistance has increased markedly.
The minister paid special attention to the work related to the training of personnel and their advanced training. He said that in the reporting period, about fifty doctors attended courses abroad, 209 people attended course lectures at PSU, and 461 doctors improved their qualifications thanks to lecturers from the Volga Region Research Medical University. In addition, hundreds of Pridnestrovian physicians attended dozens of trainings, seminars, conferences and round tables organized in Tiraspol.
The speaker spoke about work aimed at improving quality control of the provision of medical services, as well as about measures taken to ensure the greatest financial transparency. This year, increased attention will be paid to outpatient admission to hospitals and collection of revenue from the provision of paid services, the tariffs for which are planned to be reviewed. The plans include the installation of cameras in hospitals and an inventory of pharmacies.
The Head of the department focused on the topic of implementing a capital investment program in the context of the healthcare system. 37 facilities were built and repaired in 2019 with the help of the fund of capital investment, including reception department of the Clinical Hospital, the branch of the polyclinic No. 6 of the capital in Fedko Street, the pediatric department of the Grigoriopol regional hospital, and rural outpatient clinic. During the year, 12 ambulances were purchased, and numerous diverse medical equipments were purchased. 2020 plans to complete work in the admission department of the Central City Hospital in Bendery, Polyclinic No. 5 in Tiraspol, the Dermatovenerologic Dispensary and complete the building of the forensic medical examination and pathology of the Republican Clinical Hospital. The reconstruction of the therapeutic building of the Republican Clinical Hospital, the construction of an oxygen station and repair of the dietetic department are planned. It is planned to carry out the first stage of the construction of the building of the tuberculosis hospital, reconstruct the building of the gynecological hospital, and complete the overhaul of Bendery Clinic No. 2. The list of objects of the fund of capital investment 2020 program include medical and obstetrical stations and rural outpatient clinic.
Having listened to the minister’s report, the meeting participants discussed some aspects in more detail. It concerns holding tenders for procurements, while the level of salaries of teachers of the medical faculty was low, and catering was provided in medical hospitals. The President asked about the level of provision of disinfectants to healthcare facilities. Chief physicians reported that they were purchased in abundance, there would be enough stock for several months.
The President during the working discussion drew attention to the duty of doctors if, for some reason, they cannot provide assistance in treating a particular disease in the republic, inform citizens about where and how a citizen can receive such assistance.
Another topic that the President considers extremely important is fertility. Its level has remained low in Pridnestrovie for many years. Vadim Krasnoselsky refers to potentially effective measures aimed at improving the situation in this direction, such a form of support as maternity capital, the funds of which should be directed to purchase housing. The President instructed the Government to explore the possibility of implementing this socially significant project.
The second part of the meeting under the President was devoted to the Pridnestrovian Healthcare Development Concept. Anticipating the presentation, Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that it was important for him to hear all opinions about this program document at the development stage, and not after its adoption. On behalf of the President, the concept was presented on the sites of all cities and regions of the republic, as well as the PMR Government.
