"Because we remain silent and tolerate it": Ambulances are not coming to Karelian villages due to a shortage of medical workers.
The villagers couldn't wait for the ambulance Kotkozero, Olonetsky districtA patient with a high fever and difficulty breathing had to be taken by taxi. He was hospitalized and required an IV. A village resident wrote about this in a local VKontakte group, and the post was brought to the attention of Gubernia Daily.
"Please tell me, how are people living there? A paramedic works twice a week. There are no pharmacies. And even the emergency services can't go there. The situations can be dire. Not everyone has a car. Last time, we went straight from a taxi to the emergency room."- described Natalia Kuzmina's situation.
Commenters shared their own experiences. For example, in Olonets itself (a city of about 7,6 people), an ambulance didn't even come to a child—he, too, had to be taken to the hospital by taxi.
"Why is it all because we're silent and patient?" "We need to slowly move to the city." "Moscow and St. Petersburg aren't made of rubber, and not everyone has the opportunity to go and live there.", — the residents wrote.
The republic's Ministry of Health responded by explaining that "the staffing shortage prevents ambulance crews from being fully staffed," but that "everything is being done to attract specialists."