Vice Minister of Healthcare Kamalzhan Nadyrov reported on the current situation and measures taken.

According to him, an analysis of the dynamics over the past three years shows the absence of a tendency to reduce maternal mortality in the country. The growth of indicators is noted in Almaty, Karaganda and East Kazakhstan regions.

Over the past three years, there has also been a 4% increase in infant mortality. In the context of regions, the greatest growth dynamics is noted in Atyrau, Mangystau and Aktobe regions.

In order to improve the quality of medical care for pregnant women and children, plans are being implemented to reduce maternal and infant mortality, the main areas of which are staffing, material and technical equipment, standardization of medical care, digitalization and information provision to the population.

“However, the revision indicates insufficient implementation of these activities by the regions. So, in the Almaty region, out of 34 declared resuscitation anesthetists, only 10 specialists were Involved, in Karaganda – 1 out of 29, in Akmola – 4 out of 30, in Mangystau – 1 out of 15. In Turkistan and East Kazakhstan, despite the demand, neonatologists were not involved at all and in Kostanay – only 2 out of 9,” Nadirov stated.

According to him, in a number of regions there is a low level of equipping of childhood organizations with medical equipment. In particular, in the Kyzylorda, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan regions and the city of Almaty.

In addition, the meeting discussed the repayment of medical institutions' debt on medicines within the guaranteed volume of free medical care.

According to the acting Chairman of the Board of SK-Pharmacy LLP Berik Sharip, the total debt of the country's medical institutions to the Unified Distributor amounted to 19.5 billion tenge, of which 17 billion tenge under the current year’s contracts.

The deputy governors of Atyrau, Kostanay, Almaty, Karaganda, Turkistan regions, the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Shymkent also made video-conferencing.

After listening to the speeches, Berdibek Saparbayev gave a number of specific instructions.

The deputy prime minister noted the importance of timely response to complaints from citizens in the field of medical services, training of qualified personnel and continuous training of health workers, material and technical equipment, maintaining a register of pregnant women, reducing maternal and infant mortality.

“Our duty is to provide citizens with the necessary medicines in full in a timely manner. There should be no excuses! The Ministry of Healthcare together with akimats need until Dec. 1, 2019, pay off accumulated debts, develop an appropriate schedule. SK-Pharmacy needs to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicines next year. All omissions and mistakes made in past years should not be repeated in 2020. Understand this and put an end to this issue!” summed up Saparbayev.

Note that the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokaev at a meeting on the further development of the capital ordered to solve the issue of providing medical facilities with medicines and drugs.