Ilham Aliyev reviewed the major overhaul of the Imishli central district hospital

President Ilham Aliyev has reviewed the major overhaul of the Imishli central district hospital.

Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev informed the President that the total area of the two-storey hospital is 21,200 square meters. The area around the healthcare facility has been landscaped and trees planted on it. The hospital has a separate substation and an additional generator. The infectious diseases department is located in a separate building. The overhaul of the hospital began in 2010 using 1.5 million manats allocated from the Contingency Fund of the President by an order dated 30 March 2010. After renovation the central district hospital has acquired a modern look. Consisting of four buildings, the medical facility is meant for 136 patients. The main building and all departments of the hospital have been fully renovated, while its material and technical infrastructure is now in line with the highest standards. All departments of the hospital have original interior design.

It was indicated that the hospital equipment was imported from Japan, Turkey, Italy, Korea, etc. The hospital will also provide services to residents of neighboring towns and districts. The measures taken to improve the country's healthcare system and provide free healthcare services have created favorable conditions for increasing the number of such modern facilities. State programs aimed at restructuring the healthcare system, improving the measures to protect public health, using advanced technologies and strengthening the human resources have contributed to improving the health services in the country.

Due to a growing number of medical institutions meeting the highest standards in Azerbaijan, the number of people traveling for treatment abroad is gradually reducing. The most complex surgical procedures are now conducted not only in Baku but also in different regions of the country, the level of training of medical staff is improving, while a growing number of people is sent to study at the most prestigious medical schools of the world at the expense of the state. Currently, the medical institutions in Azerbaijan can compete with the healthcare institutions of the world’s developed countries in terms of their material and technical infrastructure. This is confirmed by senior officials coming to our country.

The Imishli central district hospital is not inferior to other medical institutions of the country in this respect.

After reviewing the hospital, President Ilham Aliyev met with the staff of the medical institution.

Saluting members of the staff, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- I congratulate you. It is a beautiful hospital. It has all the conditions for treatment and diagnostics. The hospital is beautifully renovated and meets international standards. As people who have here before, you will know very well what the hospital was like before. Now this beautiful hospital should provide patients with qualified medical service.

There are perfect conditions for doctors and patients here. Most importantly, as I said yesterday, people should be examined in a timely manner. We celebrated the opening of a renovated and beautiful hospital in Saatli yesterday, and today we are doing that in Imishli. The Beylagan central district hospital is also ready for opening after renovation. So every district will have an excellent medical facility.

This also reflects the current realities of Azerbaijan. The state of hospitals was not so good before.

Most of them were built in the 1970s, were outdated and needed major repairs. Most importantly, they needed modern equipment. Because it is impossible to provide qualified medical services without modern equipment.

The equipment available here is no different from the equipment of leading clinics of the world. Perhaps it is even better than the equipment of some foreign clinics, because these are the latest models. Moreover, we deliver equipment to all regions – of course, to Baku, the capital, but also to every district, every region.

Dialysis machines have been brought in. According to the Health Minister, there are more than 30 patients in need of dialysis.

Now they will be treated here. We can say that all diagnostic centers in the regions, the central city and district hospitals now have dialysis machines. This is a very important issue because people with kidney failure could not receive the necessary medical treatment before. This problem has now been resolved.

There is a maternity section meeting the latest standards. This is also very important. I spoke on this issue yesterday and I want to say it again today: at all times – both in the Soviet period and in the years of independence – unfortunately, child mortality was high. The fact that delivery rooms are now fitted with modern equipment will help to resolve this problem. Child mortality is reducing, and doctors must ensure that it is completely gone. Child mortality should be at the level of developed countries.

We have set such a goal.

I am confident that through the work of refurbished medical institutions we will achieve this goal. Doctors should provide patients with qualified services which shouldn’t be too difficult under such great conditions.

Congratulations again!