The Ministry of Health, together with territorial police departments, has ensured the operation of 152 round-the-clock police posts in medical organisations in Kazakhstan.
According to the press service of the department, police posts are currently in operation:
- in central district hospitals – 48;
- in city hospitals – 30;
- in district hospitals – 23;
- in children's hospitals – 12;
- in regional hospitals – 10;
- in perinatal centres – 5.
It is expected that the posts will allow for a rapid response to incidents, prevent conflicts, and ensure the safety of medical workers and patients.
It is noted that this measure was taken in connection with the increasing frequency of attacks on medical staff.
It is worth recalling that earlier, at the Ministry of Health, with the participation of the head of the department Akmaral Alnazarova and the chairman of the board of JSC "Kazakhtelecom" Bagdat Mussin, digital solutions using artificial intelligence were discussed.
The projects concerned issues of improving the safety of medical personnel, expanding the accessibility of medical care for the rural population, and reducing the workload on doctors.
One such innovation was the introduction of smart video tokens to improve the safety of medical workers. The technology is already being used in pilot mode by five ambulance teams in Astana, and a launch in Almaty is planned soon. The initiative was supported by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Later, in six hospitals in Astana, round-the-clock police posts were organised to protect medical workers.
All these measures are linked to the growing number of attacks on medics. In recent years, dozens of cases of violence against emergency and hospital staff have been recorded in various regions of Kazakhstan.
In June, at the Karaganda Regional Children's Hospital, a case of violence against medical workers was recorded. A 38-year-old resident of the region attacked two doctors. The incident occurred during a verbal altercation. The injured medics sustained bodily harm.
In July, in the Zhambyl region, an ambulance paramedic from the Baizak District Central Hospital received a gunshot wound to the chest. He was shot by an acquaintance with whom he had an argument over a defibrillator.
Later, at a private mammology centre in Karaganda, a man attacked a medical worker. The woman sustained numerous injuries, including a concussion. Witnesses claim the incident lasted about 20 minutes: the man broke fingers, pulled out hair, and bit her.
At the Kostanay Regional Hospital, an incident occurred involving a doctor after he completed a complex operation. The surgeon went down to the admissions department to continue examining patients when one of those waiting struck him on the head. The medic lost consciousness and was hospitalised in intensive care in a serious condition.
In August, in the admissions unit of the same Kostanay Regional Hospital, a woman attacked a registrar — a student from the Almaty Medical University undergoing a summer internship — and dealt her a strong blow to the forearm with her hand.