Quality medical care should be available and accessible in rural areas and small towns, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he appointed Aleksandr Khodzhayev as a new Healthcare Minister of Belarus, BelTA has learned.

Speaking about the tasks facing Aleksandr Khodzhayev in his new role, the president noted that the work will not be easy, but a lot has already been done by the ministry itself and the commission that was created upon the instruction of the head of state. “They have thoroughly analysed the performance of primary healthcare. You understand perfectly well that villages and small towns should not be left behind. This is the core of our state. There are people in these communities who need medical help. I’m not saying that urban communities will be neglected. But we have improved the situation there by and large, and healthcare is better in urban communities than in rural areas,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. According to the head of state, it is already clear what needs to be done in this regard and certain things have already been done. “I think that this year we will solve the problem with first aid stations, district hospitals, community hospitals, nursing hospitals. And after that we need to take it up a notch,” he emphasized.