Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Belarus (Ratification: 1979)

Articles 2(1), (2)(2)(a) and (3) of the Convention. National policy on nursing services and nursing personnel. In response to the Committee’s request, the Government of Belarus indicates that it has implemented various programs to enhance nursing services and personnel. These programs include the National Socio-economic Development Programme 2021–25, the National Public Health and Demographic Security Programme 2021–25, the National Social Protection Programme 2021–25, and the National Education and Youth Policy Programme 2021–25. They have also adopted an Action Plan for the development of nursing from 2021–25, with a focus on improving human resources policies, continuing professional education for nursing professionals, and the introduction of modern techniques in nursing. Furthermore, the Government is restructuring and reforming healthcare facilities to increase the role of professionals with intermediate healthcare and pharmacy education. They have introduced the position of male nurses and aligned their job descriptions with female primary-care nurses. The Government is also emphasizing the “team” principle in outpatient care facilities, with teams consisting of general practitioners, district nurses, general-practice nurses, and physician assistants specializing in outpatient care. The Government is also actively implementing measures outlined in the Joint Action Plan of the Ministry of Health and the National Committee of the Belarusian Trade Union of Healthcare Workers, focusing on awareness raising, monitoring wages and employment, and involving trade unions in organizational restructuring plans to promote employment. In terms of education and training for nurses, the Government follows the Education Code, the national classification of specialist areas and qualifications, and various educational standards. They have four medical universities providing higher healthcare and pharmacy education and 16 medical colleges offering intermediate-level education. These institutions participate in educational programs to improve information technology skills, professional mobility, and international competitions. The Government has also set up skills-training laboratories for nursing practice and procedures as part of the “Modernization of the Healthcare System of the Republic of Belarus” project.

The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the impact of the above measures, particularly with regard to improvement of working conditions and professional competencies, and information on consultations held with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee also requests the Government to provide copies of the Action plan and the Conceptual Framework, and any other official text adopted in the context of the implementation of a policy on nursing services and nursing personnel. The Committee further asks the Government to provide detailed information on the study programmes and of the number of persons enrolled in and graduating from nursing schools every year, disaggregated by sex and educational level, as well as statistical data on nurses, disaggregated by sex.

Article 5(1). Participation of nursing personnel in the planning of services. In response to the Committee’s previous request, the Government has provided information regarding the National Council for Nursing Service, which serves as a consultative and advisory body responsible for determining priority areas for nursing development, drafting regulations for nursing organization, and making proposals to enhance the supply of nursing professionals and educational resources. The Ministry of Health has issued Order No. 1098 in 2018, approving the composition and regulations of the National Council, which includes representatives from various institutions and associations, including the Chair of the National Committee of the Belarusian Trade Union of Healthcare Workers. The Government has also established regional councils on nursing, non-physician clinical practice, and midwifery in each region to improve nursing care, enhance the performance of mid-level healthcare workers, and upgrade the professional knowledge and practical skills of healthcare workers with intermediate vocational healthcare or pharmacy education. Decisions and recommendations from these regional councils are used to create regulations and guidance documents. Both the National Council and regional councils organize conferences, meetings, and seminars for professionals with intermediate vocational healthcare and pharmacy education. The Government has held national nursing conferences in 2018 and a national seminar in 2019 on primary care. Additionally, there have been a series of national educational seminars in 2020–21 and various face-to-face events in 2021 and 2022 related to healthcare workers. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health is working on a draft order to improve the organization of work for district nurses, general-practice nurses, and physician assistants in outpatient care. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of official documents revising the composition and rules of procedure of the National Council for Nursing Service, detailed information on the outcomes of the measures implemented by the National Council during the reporting period, and on the manner in which it is ensured that nursing personnel enjoy full-fledged participation in the National Council. The Committee also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the impact of measures taken by regional nursing councils to promote participation of nursing personnel in the planning of services and consultation on decisions concerning them. The Committee further requests the Government to provide a copy of the adopted order of the Ministry of Health on improving the organization of the work of district nurses, general-practice nurses and physician assistants in outpatient care.