Radiy Khabirov addressing to ambulance doctors and paramedics: You have hard but vital job

UFA, 2 April 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Azat Gizatullin/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

The Acting Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, at a meeting with doctors and medical assistants of the ambulance stations that took place today at a medical forum, noted that the republic was ready to assist in solving issues that had accumulated in this system.

One of the main problems in the ambulance service of the republic is a personnel shortage issue. Thirty percent of teams respond to calls with one emergency medical technician, and according to federal standards, there should be two of them. Due to financial assistance from the federal center and the republican budget, the fleet of ambulance vehicles and the ambulance stations was renovated for about 60 percent with about 200 vehicles with all necessary medical equipment. However, 140 more ambulances are required.

The Interim Minister of Health RB Maxim Zabelin said that in order to solve the personnel problem, an agreement had been reached with medical colleges on the dual training of future medical staff to receive an emergency medical technician certificates. Already this year, along with diplomas, 80 graduates will receive such certificates.

The head of the republican ambulance station and the center of emergency medicine Marat Ziganshin noted that at one time the transition to outsourcing in ambulances was a necessary measure.

Radiy Khabirov said that the republic would be ready to buy 20-30 equipped vehicles every year, they would find funds for this in the budget.

Another problem is the safety of ambulance crews. This issue will be taken under control by Radiy Khabirov and discussed with the leadership of the Ministry of Interior in Bashkiria. The Ministry of Health, in turn, plans to equip ambulance crews with mobile tablets to immediately call police officers through a single system.

The head of Bashkortostan asked the leadership of the regional Ministry of Health to pay special attention to the social guarantees of paramedics working in ambulances. Maxim Zabelin noted that incentives for them would be provided as part of the “Bashkir Paramedic” republican program, which would soon be submitted for approval.

Marat Ziganshin asked for assistance in the organization of substations in Ufa. When building new housing estates, this issue is not taken into account at all. For example, in Shaksha neighborhood, ambulance crews are forced to be located in two apartments. No premises are available in the Zaton neighborhood either.

The chief external expert of the Ministry of Health of Russia for emergency medical care, academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Sergey Bagnenko noted that modern inpatient emergency departments had been created in St. Petersburg. Doctors can make a diagnosis and start treatment within 2 hours there. Patients themselves now ask them to be delivered to these departments, and not to city hospitals. There are similar branches in Naberezhnye Chelny, Krasnodar, Sochi. Ten such departments will appear in Moscow.

Radiy Khabirov said that such a department should be created in Ufa at one of the city hospitals. He instructed to work on this issue and report back at the next “Healthcare Hour” session.