Doctors Forbidden to Hold More Than One Office :: Charter'97 :: News

Since November doctors and members of staff of the Institute of Oncology were forbidden to hold more than one office. As a result, salaries dropped almost twice. In a short time other doctors are to face the same rule.

The Institute of Oncology was the first medical body where doctors where prohibited to work in some other places, consequently they where left without additional income. This order was signed by the I. Zalutski, the director of the Institute, in the beginning of November.

The Ministry of Health Protection explains that such rules where introduced in connection with the new Labor Code, which underlines that those who work in unsafe conditions, are prohibited to hold more that one office. In such a way the state intends to protect doctors’ health.

The same order is prepared in the institute of Radiation Medicine. Meanwhile, not only oncologists, but other specialists (neurosurgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and others) work in harmful conditions and even receive free milk for it.

Belarusian doctors always received unbelievably low salary, so they where compelled to find extra work. Now every doctor of the Institute of Oncology will be given about $50 less than before.

The Ministry of Health Protection addressed Administration of Lukashenka in order to improve the situation.

But the answer was that the verdict corresponds to the law and cannot be changed. Lukashenka also refused to issue a special decree allowing doctors to hold more than one office.

The Ministry of Health Protection considers that the state of affairs could be altered if the salaries of the doctors were increased. But it is unlikely. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the total indebtedness of the state to the employees of the state-run institutions is huge – 40 billion roubles for October 30.