Belarus creates fund to protect health care workers

The medical workers invariably stand guard over the health security of Belarusians. They save, they cure, they give second life and, unfortunately, not always receive gratitude in return. And sometimes they are subjected to moral and even physical violence.

In the case of illegal actions on the part of the patients, medical workers can now count on the social and material support of trade unions. A special fund has been created in Belarus.

During the first half of the year 2020, the International Committee of the Red Cross published data on more than 600 cases of humiliation of medical workers by patients in 40 countries of the world. 23% of the incidents was related to physical abuse, 17% was related to verbal abuse. But this is what they were able to find out firsthand or from social media. It many cases, the victims themselves keep silent about the abuse.

The ambulance workers are under particular threat. The ambulance crews make up to 2,500 trips in the capital alone. Attacks on doctors occur several times a year, says Evgeny Yudakov, head of Emergency Station No. 11. He has about 10 years of field experience. Despite his administrative position, he sometimes has to go on calls himself.

Financial compensation in case of assault by patients

Now, in such situations medics can count on social and financial support. The Federation of Trade Unions together with the Belarusian Association of Doctors and the Ministry of Health created a fund for the protection of health workers. The victim of the unlawful actions should turn to the police and then to the republican committee of trade unions.

There is one more variant of assistance: about 3 thousand rubles will be allocated to the medical worker for legal support in case of professional error claims.