The head of state held a meeting on preparations for the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic

In his speech, the President of Kazakhstan noted the deterioration of the epidemiological situation in many countries, in connection with which state bodies need to be prepared for a possible aggravation of the situation. Speaking about the problematic points, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev pointed to a decrease in the volume of testing.

- Despite the expansion of the network of laboratories and the decrease in the cost of testing all over the world, our prices remain high - from 10 to 18 thousand tenge. I believe that this is an unacceptable amount for a large part of the population. The Government and akims are required to resolve the issue of financial availability of testing. It is also important to ensure a significant reduction in the prices of protective masks, the cost of which is still high compared to other countries, in particular Russia. The government plans to approve the maximum retail price for masks within 60 tenge. As I was informed, in Russia the cost varies from 20 to 30 tenge. I instruct the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition to analyze the adequacy of such prices and ensure monitoring of the price policy in terms of laboratory services and personal protective equipment, the Head of State said.

The President reminded the meeting participants that the citizens of Kazakhstan in the summer faced a shortage of medicines. Only after the instructions of the Head of State, the necessary measures were taken at the local level: a two-month supply of drugs was created, the list of the most necessary drugs was expanded, and the procedure for their import and registration was simplified.

The head of state noted that in the context of the second wave of the pandemic, doctors will again take the brunt of the blow. On his instructions, more than 150 billion tenge were allocated for payments in the second half of the year. However, bureaucratic obstacles still remain in obtaining allowances and insurance payments.

- On the ground, the "games with numbers" on allowances continue, there is still no transparency in their distribution. This is an unacceptable situation. The chief doctors are trying to adjust the time tracking against the doctors. At the same time, doctors should not beg for the money they are entitled to. During the pandemic as of September 30, 182 medical workers died from the coronavirus. Now these cases are considered by various commissions, benefits were paid to only 37 families. An absolutely unacceptable situation. Determining the causes of death ex post facto causes many difficulties, including ethical ones. In this regard, the Government is instructed to pay all due allowances to the families of the deceased doctors without conducting detailed investigations. For all confirmed cases of illness of medical workers while on duty, the payment should be unconditionally made as soon as possible, the President of Kazakhstan demanded.

In the speech, the importance of providing the necessary medical care for other diseases was noted. The head of state dwelled on the deterioration of the situation with health care for mothers and children.

- For 8 months of last year, 36 women died, for 8 months of this year - 131 women. So, in the Aktobe region, this indicator increased almost 13 times, in the Kyzylorda region - 9 times, in the city of Shymkent - 7 times. Why was no help given to these people? What measures have been taken? Akims should answer these pressing questions. I instruct the Government, together with the regions, to check each fact and report the results. Protection of mothers and children, the provision of oncological, cardiological, pulmonary and other types of medical care is our task. Nobody relieved the akims and the Government from this duty, - said Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.

Other issues were also considered at the meeting. The President pointed out the importance of the uninterrupted operation of life support services. In his opinion, special attention is required to food security and price regulation for socially significant goods.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes that Kazakhstan has managed to avoid a critical decline in economic activity. Steps were taken to stimulate business, assistance was provided to vulnerable groups of the population. The World Bank positively assessed the dynamics of the main indicators of the country's socio-economic development. At the same time, the impending second wave of the pandemic around the world dictates new challenges.

At the end of his speech, the President focused on the critical importance of communication and feedback with the citizens of the country.

- Practice has already shown that the success of the fight against the pandemic largely depends on the degree of people's confidence in the measures and decisions taken. Trust, in turn, depends on the understanding and involvement of citizens in the actions of the authorities. It is necessary to continue an ongoing dialogue with citizens, to talk about problems and risks honestly and openly, while proposing solutions. In turn, businesses and citizens should understand that the development of the situation will depend on strict compliance with sanitary and preventive measures. According to a realistic and optimistic scenario, we can and should avoid the need for tough restrictive measures this year, the Head of State said.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Minister of Health Alexei Tsoi, Akim of Nur-Sultan Altai Kulginov, Akim of Almaty Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Akim of Shymkent Murat Aytenov, as well as Akim of Atyrau region Makhambet Dosmukhambetov spoke.

The full text of the President's speech can be found here.

 

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