The head of state cut the symbolic red ribbon in the presence of the hospital staff, the Stroitrest No. 35 team that built the new complex, and officials.
The opening of the facility is timed to coincide with the upcoming holiday, October Revolution Day.
«They built it quickly, well done. On time. Just as instructed. This hospital was a real-life necessity, born of our own experience,» the president said, referring to the pandemic period.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the hospital has its own infrastructure, thanks to which patient and staff flows are separated as much as possible. This will prevent infection from spreading within the facility. He also said the hospital looks more like a residential complex than a medical institution.
«But there should be nothing excessive. We spend enormous money on healthcare. It should be comfortable, and services should be provided on a proper level,» the head of state said.
The president noted that the facility is unique not only for its comfort and equipment: lightweight steel thin-wall structures were used in its construction, which made it possible to cut both construction time and cost.
«The main advantage of this technology is that it allows for rapid reconfiguration when necessary. And in the event of a new epidemic, God forbid, we will be able to double the hospital’s capacity,» Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
To mark the opening, the president presented the new hospital with a modern artificial ventilation device from a leading Chinese manufacturer. It helps in severe forms of respiratory infections, supplying the body with oxygen and buying the time needed for medication to take effect and for the patient to recover.
The new infectious diseases hospital is located in Minsk’s Tsentralny District, near Dolginovsky Trakt. The existing City Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital stands in the city center, with its departments scattered across separate buildings, some dating back to 1913.
The new facility has been designed as Belarus’ only infectious diseases inpatient facility capable of handling infections of all levels, including Biosafety level 4 (the highest), by building treatment departments on the model of full Melzer boxes.
The new hospital is equipped with highly effective infection control systems to minimize the risk of spreading infectious disease pathogens, a next-generation intensive care unit with multiparameter monitoring technology, and modern laboratory, diagnostic and treatment equipment that makes it possible to detect and treat all infectious diseases potentially possible in the country.
The healthcare institution will also be able to at least double its capacity if necessary to combat epidemics and pandemics if the epidemiological situation worsens.
