Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

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

Article 2, paragraph 2(b), of the Convention. The Government takes note of the information provided by the Government in its report. It notes that Order No. 232 of 19 August 1998 of the Ministry of Health provides for the procedure of awarding qualification grades for medical and pharmaceutical staff but that no reference is mentioned in relation to the nursing personnel. The Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of Resolution No. 724 of 1 December 1992 of the Council of Ministers.

Article 4. In its previous report the Government has informed that the right to exercise the medical profession, including the nursing profession, is provided for under the Act of 18 June 1993 "On the Health Service". However, the Committee notes that Chapter XI of this Act, Rights, obligations and responsibility of medical and pharmaceutical personnel, applies exclusively for medical and pharmaceutical personnel. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on the laws or regulations which specify the requirements for the practice of nursing.

Article 5, paragraph 1. The Committee recalls that this provision of the Convention provides for promoting the participation of the nursing personnel in the public and private sectors in the planning of nursing services and the consultation with such personnel on decisions concerning them. The Committee is therefore bound to request again the Government to supply information on the legal provisions or regulations which have been adopted to ensure the application of the Convention on these points.

Article 7. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government according to which measures have been taken as regards working conditions, confidentiality and recognition for nursing personnel of infection by HIV as an occupational cause. It requests the Government to indicate if consultations with the employers' and workers' organizations have taken place for the adoption of the abovementioned measures. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to provide information on the adoption of other measures to avoid or minimize the risks of exposure of healthcare workers to the AIDS virus.

Part V of the report form. Please continue to supply general information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice and also supply, where possible, information on the number of persons leaving the profession.