The document reviews the health system in Belarus, inherited from the Soviet era, where health care services includes good health indicators relative to its average income levels, a strong commitment to providing equitable access to health care, and well trained medical doctors. However, there is an overall dissatisfaction with the health system's performance, namely a deteriorated health status, declining birth rates, and increased death rates. There is inadequate prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease, including that for renewed epidemics of communicable diseases, i.e., tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections, and, further concerns include the inappropriate allocation of the percentage of GDP to health care. Such performance arise from the absence of clinical protocols, and treatment methods which do not reflect effective approaches to medical care and disease prevention; from an unbalanced health care delivery; inadequate health facilities, and management systems; and, the inefficient allocation of health resources. A sustained, and wide-ranging process of gradual, planned improvements in the health care system should include fostering disease prevention, while promoting clinical practices with good medical assistance, reorganizing the system of health infrastructure into a diverse network of accredited facilities, with defined roles, commensurate technology, and accountability for clinical excellence, and effective use of resources. Other changes call for the realignment of professional, and financial incentives for health providers, and consumers, for professional training opportunities, and, by restructuring incentives.
