LocationsCloser, Faster, More Effective: How a New Model of Healthcare is Transforming Communities in Belarus
July 10, 2026
For a person suffering a heart attack or stroke, time is measured not in hours, but in minutes. For a pregnant woman experiencing complications or an older person living with chronic conditions, access to specialized care close to home means more than convenience — it can often determine the outcome of treatment.
That is why UNDP, together with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, with financial support from China's Global South-South Development and Cooperation Fund, is supporting the development of inter-district medical centers — one of the country’s key approaches to bringing modern specialized healthcare closer, faster and more effective.
When the path to a specialist becomes shorter
Belarus’ healthcare system is evolving amid demographic changes. The country’s population is gradually ageing, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the leading cause of mortality.
For people living in small towns and rural areas, access to advanced medical care depends not only on the quality of treatment available, but also on the distance they need to travel to receive it.
In Belarus, inter-district medical centers bring together advanced medical equipment, complex diagnostic and treatment services, and the expertise of specialized healthcare professionals. District hospitals serve as the first link in an integrated system, ensuring early detection of diseases, timely referral of patients, and follow-up care.
This approach not only enables more efficient use of resources, but also significantly reduces the time required for patients to access specialized medical services.
One example of this approach is the Mozyr Inter-District Medical Centre, which currently provides specialized healthcare services to residents of 8 districts in the Polesie region — more than 300,000 people. Nearly one-third of them live in areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Accessible and easy-to-understand health information is an important part of quality healthcare. Brochures were provided to the Mozyr Inter-District Medical Centre, operating within the Mozyr Central City Polyclinic, to help people better understand their medical test results, increase awareness of their own health, and make more informed decisions.
The foundation of a sustainable model — cooperation and coordination
Building a sustainable model requires continuous assessment of its effectiveness. UNDP supports an expert dialogue on developing inter-district medical centers system that brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, heads of healthcare organizations, medical practitioners and international partners.
Representatives of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, the Mozyr Central City Polyclinic, the Yelsk Central District Hospital, the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Medical Technologies, and other healthcare experts took part in discussions on the development of the inter-district healthcare model.
The key conclusion shared by experts was that the effectiveness of the inter-district model depends on well-organized patient referral pathways, continuous cooperation between healthcare institutions, unified clinical protocols, ongoing capacity building of medical personnel, and the availability of modern equipment. Further project support will focus on strengthening these key elements of the inter-district healthcare model.
When a system saves minutes, it saves lives
One of the key areas of work of the Mozyr Inter-District Medical Centre is the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. These conditions remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Belarus and one of the major causes of disability.
Thanks to the work of the inter-district center, patients experiencing heart attacks or strokes can receive specialized care within the so-called “golden hour” — a critical period when timely intervention can determine a person’s chances of survival and recovery. At the same time, mortality from acute myocardial infarction is decreasing, along with the number of cases of primary disability among working-age patients.
In 2025 alone, specialists at the center performed more than 1,160 coronary angiographies and nearly 600 endovascular procedures on coronary arteries.
As part of the partnership between UNDP and the Ministry of Health, with financial support from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, the Mozyr Inter-District Medical Centre will receive modern equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This will help healthcare professionals detect conditions more quickly and provide patients with higher-quality specialized care.
Stronger healthcare for the entire region
Another important conclusion of the expert discussion was that inter-district centers do not replace district hospitals — they strengthen their capacity.
For example, in the Yelsk district, unified patient referral pathways have been introduced, allowing people to be promptly referred to Mozyr for specialized care and then continue treatment and follow-up closer to home. This approach ensures continuity of care — from initial diagnosis to advanced treatment, rehabilitation and long-term patient support.
Investing in sustainable development
The development of inter-district medical centers is an investment in the sustainable development of regions.
When modern medical technologies become more accessible to residents of small towns and rural areas, inequalities decrease, healthcare systems become more resilient, and people’s quality of life improves.
These systemic changes contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 — Good Health and Well-being — and reflect a principle shared by UNDP and its partners: quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone.