Director of Cardiology Research and Practical Centre: in many respects we keep pace with world’s largest clinics

Last year, 241.7 coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries per 1 million population were performed in Belarus (against 227.5 in 2022) and slightly more than 200 operations per 1 million population were performed using artificial circulation – as noted by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Natalia Mitkovskaya, the Director of the Cardiology Republican Scientific and Practical Centre, Head of the Department of Cardiology and Internal Diseases at the Belarusian State Medical University, Chairperson of the Belarusian Scientific Society of Cardiologists, and chief freelance specialists on cardiology of the Healthcare Ministry

“These figures are comparable to those reflected in the reports of our Russian colleagues, where cardiology and cardiac surgery are developing at a very active pace. Moreover, we have achieved very good results in X-ray endovascular surgery: last year, 15,000 interventions on heart vessels were performed in 36 centres across the country, including 10 inter-district facilities. Assistance to patients with both acute coronary syndrome and chronic coronary insufficiency is available in all regions of the country and is provided at a high professional level,” Ms. Mitkovskaya explained.

“Now we need to work on improving the patient routing in accordance with the developed roadmaps so that any person with an acute coronary syndrome or with acute cerebrovascular accident is brought to the operating table as early as possible. Fortunately, this is the case in most regions. This is something we are proud of, something that commands the respect of our foreign colleagues. Huge amount of state money has been invested in this, a significant number of specialists have been trained, who have travelled to Russia and other European countries for training. I can say that by many indicators we are keeping pace with the world’s largest clinics, and in some respects we are even ahead of them,” the expert summed up.