Court No. 2 of Atyrau has sentenced a surgeon who took money from patients for varicose vein operations covered under compulsory social health insurance (CSHI). The doctor was given two years of restricted freedom, taking into account an amnesty, and was banned from holding certain positions for three years.
HOW THE DOCTOR TOOK MONEY FROM PATIENTS
According to the publication "Ak Zhayyk", from April 2023 to March 2025, the surgeon, who held the position of head of the vascular surgery department at the Atyrau Regional Cardiology Centre, also saw patients at Family Health Clinic and at IE "Kim V.A."
In July 2026, the criminal case against the surgeon was sent to court.
The court established that the doctor did not inform patients about the possibility of undergoing varicose vein treatment operations free of charge. Instead, he stated the cost of treatment and suggested transferring money to a personal account or handing it over in cash.
At the same time, after the operations, information about the provision of free medical care was entered into the DamuMed information system. On the basis of this data, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) transferred money to the medical organisations.
HOW MUCH MONEY WAS RECEIVED FROM PATIENTS
The case materials mention payments from 50,000 to 500,000 tenge. One of the patients said that he paid 200,000 tenge for an operation on one leg and 300,000 tenge for both legs. He transferred the money directly to the surgeon.
According to a specialist's conclusion, the doctor received 8 million 880 thousand tenge from patients. In addition, medical organisations received 14 million 820 thousand 547 tenge from the SHIF for treating these same people.
WHY PATIENTS ASKED THAT THE DOCTOR NOT BE DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY
In court, the surgeon admitted guilt and repented. As circumstances that affected his financial situation, he cited his father's serious illness, the birth of a child and the fact that he was the sole breadwinner for the family.
Most of the victims had no complaints about the quality of the operations and said that the treatment had been successful, without complications. By the time the case was considered, the damage to the patients had been compensated. Many withdrew their civil claims and asked the court not to deprive the doctor of liberty.
WHAT PUNISHMENT THE COURT IMPOSED
On the main charge, the court found the surgeon guilty of repeated fraud using his official position and sentenced him to three years of restricted freedom. After an amnesty was applied, the term was reduced to two years.
In addition, the court banned him for three years from holding positions involving financial responsibility in the field of medicine. At the same time, a ban on medical practice in general is not provided for in the verdict.
Separately, the court considered two episodes in which female patients knew about the possibility of free operations but, after treatment, voluntarily transferred 200,000 and 300,000 tenge to the doctor as a thank-you. The court found the receipt of this money unlawful, but released the surgeon from liability in these episodes due to the expiry of the limitation period.