President’s Address: It is planned to open medical centers in 137 rural support settlements

At the government session chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, measures to implement the Address of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the people Kazakhstan "Unity of People and Systemic Reforms — Solid Foundation for the Country's Prosperity" were considered. Minister of Healthcare Alexey Tsoy reported on the development of the health care system.

The complex epidemiological situation and the challenges faced by the country's health care system require the mobilization of efforts from all departments and sectors of the state's economy.

In his Address to the people of Kazakhstan dated Sep. 1, 2021, the Head of State noted the need to accelerate the procurement of vaccines registered by the World Health Organization.

It should be noted that the department has already purchased a number of vaccines registered by WHO, these are:

  • CoronaVac, manufactured by Sinovac, China;
  • VeroCell, manufactured by Sinopharm, China.

In addition, it is planned to supply Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. Currently, the issues of transportation, the delivery schedule and the signing of the contract are being worked out.

At the same time, continuous work continues to immunize the population against vaccine-preventable diseases in accordance with the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations.

In addition, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan instructed to create a National Biosafety Forecasting System and adopt a law "On Biological Safety".

“As part of the implementation of this instruction, we have developed draft Laws "On Biological Safety of the Republic of Kazakhstan" and "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Biological Safety Issues," which were submitted to the Majilis of Parliament on June 29, 2021. The head of state instructed the laboratories of sanitary-epidemiological expertise to provide high-tech equipment that meets international standards,” Tsoy said.

Modernization of laboratory equipment will allow to carry out the full range of necessary studies, reduce test time, improve the quality of services provided, as well as assist in epidemiological investigations and determine the root causes of outbreaks.

For these purposes, funding is provided from the republican budget in the amount of 4.7 billion tenge.

One of the main messages of the Address is the allocation of financing to the health care system for the development of infrastructure, training and provision of the population with medicines.

As part of this instruction, to provide medical care in rural areas, it is envisaged to open feldsher-obstetric, medical centers and medical outpatient clinics in 137 support settlements for a total amount of 8.2 billion tenge.

“Along with this, we are implementing investment projects for the construction of at least 20 modern hospitals and 2 research and innovation centers. In addition, for the development of the infrastructure of subordinate and regional medical organizations, we provide for the construction and modernization of at least 20 facilities for a total amount of about 85 billion tenge. To provide human resources, it is planned to graduate more than 7.5 thousand doctors and 24 thousand paramedical workers annually,” the Minister of Healthcare said.

To provide the population with medicines, funding is provided for the purchase of medicines in the amount of 231 billion tenge annually.

At the same time, the President instructed to ensure the increase in the share of domestic pharmaceutical products from 17% to 50%. As part of the implementation of this instruction, the Ministry has intensified cooperation with global pharmaceutical corporations, attracts investors, transfers technologies and the latest developments. In addition, it is planned to expand the volume and range of off-take contracts with domestic producers.

“We are going to create a center for laboratory and technical testing of medical devices accredited in accordance with international standards. This event provides for financing in the amount of 18.3 billion tenge,” Tsoy summed up.

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