Free medicine - the ghost of Belarus socialism
Do you think that free medicine is a good thing? most people will answer yes! But I rephrase the question: Is there "free medicine" in fact?
In this article I will tell you what is "free medicine" in fact and try to answer the question - how much does it cost to remain healthy in socialism.
Belarus stood on the edge of the abyss, and I helped her take a step forward.
- Alexander Lukashenko
Annual funding for medicine in Belarus
According to the official data of 2017, Belarus financed 878 800 000 rubles (439 400 000 $) in medicine. Does this figure seem impressive to you? I hasten to disappoint you. First, it is a beautiful figure for the public. Secondly, everything is known in comparison, so we will compare this figure with another government spending.
For military needs, 924,500,000 rubles ($ 462,250,000) were spent. But this is also an "easy" comparison. Police and maintenance of internal law enforcement in the country spent ~ 2 times more - 1 800 000 000 rubles (900 000 000 USD). If this is not enough for you, then that's not all. The service of public debt was spent ~ 2.8 times more - 2 500 000 000 rubles ($ 1,250,000,000).
What conclusion can we draw from these figures? First of all - the state every year has to spend a huge amount from the budget only to pay foreign debt. This is the first sign of an inefficient economic model and mediocre management. Belarus takes a loan from Russia in order to pay off debts on a loan to Russia. It's funny.
Secondly, another regular question arises: Why is such a small state spending on internal security an amount that is almost 3 times higher than the financing of medicine?
Interesting fact: Belarus is the absolute leader in the world in terms of the ratio of the number of police officers to the population. According to Wikipedia data, there are 1442 police officers per 100 00 people. For example, in the USA there are 256 policemen per 100 00 people.
There are no internal enemies in Belarus and there is practically no organized crime. There are only simple and dissatisfied people. The state convinces the population that there is a thunderstorm and the police are called upon to protect them. Obviously, one thing - a strong and numerous police - is primarily the protection of the regime of power from dissatisfied people. And the number of dissatisfied people is constantly growing.
Interesting fact: the salary of a policeman in Belarus exceeds the wages that workers in any industry, including science, receive.
Engineers take part in creating details and mechanisms, scientists develop science. A policeman does not produce anything, but earns more. Social injustice.
Doctor work in a "free" and "paid" hospital
Do not complain to me about the disease! There are a lot of patients in the government.
- A. Lukashenko
For starters, let's look at the official sources and find out what salaries doctors receive in public, that is free hospitals. According to official statistics, it ranges from $ 300 to $ 500 (depending on the length of service and position). But according to unofficial data - this figure is overestimated by 2 times. For information, taxi drivers get far more doctors.
And now for comparison, let's look at the salaries of doctors who work in private clinics. In many private clinics, a good specialist is paid a salary of $ 500 to $ 1000. That is, the difference is significant.
Do you think the difference is only in wages? You are wrong. First of all, they are excellent working conditions and, accordingly, good and new medical equipment. Good working conditions and good wages are a worthy motivation for any doctor. Everyone strives to improve their financial situation and doctors - not an exception.
A private clinic is NOT a free medicine.
Personal Hospital of the Dictator
To repair the state clinic in the city of Gomel, money is collected from the pocket of ordinary people. And at this time, for the money of the state, the president is building a new hospital for himself. People are forced to collect money for repairing a state hospital for which they pay taxes on a monthly basis. Some hospitals have been building for 10 years already. When building the President's hospital, there were no such problems.
The new presidential hospital, built on "budget" money is equipped with the latest technology. There is installed the best European equipment, which is not in the usual "free" hospitals.
What I did not see in Europe! Dirty everything! People rub against each other ...
- A. Lukashenko
According to unofficial information submitted by experts - the cost of the presidential hospital is more than $ 500,000,000. According to official data, the figure was 5 times less, so as not to anger people. At the same time, only $ 5,000,000 was spent on the reconstruction of the "free" hospital in Minsk. Do you feel the difference?
The main achievement of the presidency hospital will be the use of innovative technologies in surgery. Operations can be carried out by using a robotic surgeon.
The president promised that soon the hospital will be accessible to ordinary citizens, but with one exception - for ordinary citizens, it will be worth the money. This hospital is "free" only for the higher caste. A simple person will pay if he is admitted there.
The Presidential Hospital is NOT a free medicine.
What is the real price of "free medicine"?
In 60 years the guy — it's a horse on which one can still plow, and not with a plow in one body, but with three hulls - and pulls
- A. Lukashenko (Yes, yes - these are his real words on camera)
Having reached this chapter, you could learn that "free" medicine is not a promising and developing direction in Belarus. She looks like a unicorn - She does not exist.
The first place is given to the security of the ruling regime, and not to human health. Therefore, if you want to be healthy in a country with "free" medicine - be prepared to pay either your health or your money.
Ordinary pensioners are not able to acquire a good imported medicine. Its cost is too big for them. Most ordinary citizens buy Belarusian medicines. No, not because it is qualitative but because it is cheap.
If suddenly you get sick and are hospitalized in one of the "free" hospitals, then be ready to support yourself. Nutrition in such hospitals is severely limited. Patients are fed just that much - that they would not die of hunger. Therefore, relatives and friends of the patient traditionally carry food to the hospital and this is considered the norm.
In many regional polyclinics, what would be "free" to conduct ultrasound of the heart - the patient can wait up to 6 months. Many patients wait for a limited number of "free" coupons. Therefore, if you want to know the state of your heart more quickly - pay money. For your money, you will be checked on the same day.
According to statistics, many young medical specialists do not want to work in public clinics. They do not see the prospects for growth and development and the main disadvantage is the very low wages. According to the social survey - young doctors receive 140-200 $ per month. Agree, this does not motivate.
In this short article, I expressed my objective opinion and stated publicly available facts. The majority of the population of Belarus is dissatisfied with medicine. Many complex operations are not carried out in a socialist republic. Therefore, people turn to financial help for other people because their native state cannot help them.
Many polyclinics were built during the Soviet era and equipment in them of the same times. Most services are paid. Free services are either very substandard or just look free. As the saying goes: "Free cheese is only in a mousetrap."
Do you still think that free medicine exists?