Tiraspol, 10 March. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The programme for the procurement of new medical equipment at the expense of 1% of the unified social tax should also include consumables for taking diagnostic lab tests. Such an initiative was proposed by the chairman of the parliamentary committee on social policy, healthcare, labour, family and children, Sergey Cheban. During today's committee meeting, the lawmaker noted that he drafted this bill following numerous requests from citizens complaining about a high cost of some lab tests. In case new funding procedure is approved, some tests will be available free of charge, Sergey Cheban expresses confidence.
«This bill provides for the splitting of means for buying both equipment and lab test ingredients, that is, part of tests will be obligatory free. We do not determine which tests and which purchases the ministry will make. We entitle the government to include lab consumables in the procurement list when approving the programme for the following financial year," the author comments on his draft law.
However, according to the healthcare minister, Tatyana Skrypnik, it is premature to split funds as the process of re-equipment of the country's medical facilities has just begun. «The re-equipment of the healthcare sector is still relevant. We have managed to accomplish some tasks, but as of today, we have to pay attention to other aspects of our activities, including the re-equipment of district hospitals and the procurement of ambulances. This is what Kamenka, Grigoriopol and Dnestrovsk hospitals need so much," stated Tatyana Skrypnik.
The minister underscored that the majority of lab tests at Pridnestrovian medical facilities are free anyway. Thus, 96% of diagnostic tests are made at the expense of nedical institutions, and 80% of polyclinic tests are also free. «The remaining 4% of tests at hospitals account for self-pay patients, who as a rule are foreign citizens," explained the minister. According to her, necessary test consumables are procured at the expanse of these 4% and 20%, that is, taking lab tests is self-financed.
Sergey Cheban's committee colleagues also did not agree with his initiative. «If the procurement of lab ingredients and the procurement of equipment are thrown into the balance, I am asking to retain the government contract and buy the equipment. Today the operation life of the most part of equipment has already expired, and the quality of medical assistance provided by means of this equipment does not allow our personnel to properly diagnose and treat patients," noted the head doctor of Republican Clinic Hospital, people's deputy Vladimir Pelin.
As a result, the committee has decided to recommend the parliament to reject the draft law, although Sergey Cheban underscored that he would advocate the bill at a regular session.
The programme for the re-equipment of healthcare sector at the expanse of the Unitary Social Insurance State Fund has been effect in Pridnestrovie since 2013. Within this programme, new ultrasound scanners, modern lab and endoscopic equipment, new X-ray and fluorograph units have been purchased. The 2016 programme has yet to be approved. However, as Tatyana Skrypnik said in an interview with Novosti Pridnestrovya, it is likely to be divided in two parts. At the first stage, outdated equipment will be replaced, and at the second stage, the new equipment that the country has never had will be purchased.
