Free health care you say?

Belarusians will have to pay for unnecessary ambulance calls.

Amendments to the law on health care will provide for compensation of expenses on treatment of drunken patients and compensation for unnecessary ambulance calls, minister of health care Vasily Zharko said to journalists today, BelTA news agency reports.

“If someone causes a car incident while driving under influence, he or she must pay for treatment. Today, compensation of expenses can be made on a decision of a court,” the minister said. Vasily Zharko assured that it would be clearly defined by the second reading in what cases a drunken patient must pay. “If one drinks 20gr and has a hypertensive crisis, he or she mustn't pay,” the minister thinks.

He added the first reading of the draft law was scheduled for June 26.

Vasily Zharko said a question of compensation for false ambulance calls would be discussed. The rate of false calls reach 5-7% in big cities, the minister notes.

Earlier, deputy prime minister Anatoly Tozik also proposed to introduce fees of 5,000-10,000 rubles for visiting a polyclinic.