In the Atyrau region, during an off-site meeting, lawmakers discussed with representatives of government agencies and experts the issues of reducing maternal and infant mortality.
Statistics indicate a decline in child mortality; however, Deputy Nartai Sarsengaliyev pointed out that 2,500 infants died in the country over the past year. According to him, infant mortality has increased in five regions: Abai, Aktobe, Almaty, Zhetysu, and Ulytau.
It was noted that maternal mortality is also a pressing issue in Kazakhstan. Statistics reveal that in 2021, 200 mothers died during childbirth, in 2022 – 70, in 2023 – 45, and in 2024 – 37. However, when comparing data over the last six years, maternal mortality has increased in 10 regions of Kazakhstan.
Deputy Minister of Health Yerzhan Nurlybaev stated that as a result of implementing various government programs, the year 2024 has seen the lowest recorded rate of infant mortality in the history of the republic's independence, as well as a historical minimum for maternal mortality.
During the meeting, issues were raised concerning the training of specialists, accessibility of medical care for residents of remote villages, bonuses for doctors who saved the lives of mothers and infants, prevention of premature pregnancies, protection of the health of mothers and newborns, and the outflow of personnel from state hospitals to private clinics, among others.
Askhат Aimagambetov, summarizing the meeting, suggested revising the distribution of medications and emphasized the need to strengthen efforts to improve and enhance the material and technical base of perinatal centers. He also proposed that the government recommendations include the introduction of differentiated pay for obstetricians-gynecologists based on the complexity of their work and the establishment of targeted educational grants with subsequent service commitments specifically in areas with a critical shortage of personnel.