According to Senator Ainur Argynbekova, the current state of healthcare system modernization is leading to issues with staffing.
In her parliamentary inquiry, she highlighted that even with sufficient material and technical resources available in many medical organizations across the country, the notion that "staff is everything" remains relevant. A clear example of this is seen in projects where medical facilities were equipped with modern technology, yet in practice, there were no qualified personnel to operate it.
The senator also pointed out that by the end of 2023, there is a shortage of 4,864 medical specialists. The greatest demand is noted in major cities such as Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent, as well as in several rural areas. Among the most sought-after specialties are therapists, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians-gynecologists.
The senator stated that the issue of a shortage of qualified medical personnel remains acute and requires a comprehensive approach to address it. She proposed several specific measures to tackle the problem. These include legally establishing the Ministry of Health's role in coordinating professional medical education and implementing a roadmap for improving workforce policies.
“The Ministry of Health must expedite the process of submitting a legislative proposal to Parliament to amend the code 'On the Health of the People and the Healthcare System' regarding healthcare workforce resources. Consider the development and approval of a roadmap to ensure an effective healthcare workforce policy. Within the framework of current legislation, complete the work on establishing multidisciplinary university clinics,” concluded the parliamentarian.