Minister of Health Azhar Giniyat visited the Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health of NC JSC "Medical University of Karaganda" on 31.08.2023.

The Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health carries out research activities in the field of occupational hygiene and is a republican center providing specialized care in occupational pathology, expert examination of the relationship between disease and occupational activity, supervise the occupational pathology service in the country.  The staff of the Institute consists of 128.5 staff units, doctors and candidates of medical sciences, PhD’s, and the teaching staff of the NC JSC “Medical University of Karaganda” carry out consultations.

The Centre with the Medical University is reorganized into NC JSC "Medical University of Karaganda" and the Institute of Public Health and Professional Health is organized in 2019.

During the visit to the Institute, the minister familiarized herself with the work of the research sanitary-hygienic laboratory and the Occupational Health Clinic.

Currently, more than 8,000 patients with occupational diseases are registered in the country.  The departments of occupational therapy, occupational neurology, consultative and diagnostic department diagnose, examine and treat patients with pneumoconiosis, dust diseases of the lungs, occupational radiculopathy, occupational intoxication, noise and vibration diseases, etc. Primary medical prophylaxis (rehabilitation) is also provided to employees of industrial enterprises.

The Institute has standing medical and expert commissions, expert occupational pathology commissions and the Republican Expert Conflict Occupational Pathology Commission.

The Minister familiarized herself with the equipment, in particular the equipment of sanitary-hygienic and clinical laboratories, rehabilitation and treatment block.

In the Occupational Therapy Department, Azhar Giniyat spoke to patients who are undergoing examination and treatment.

The Minister drew special attention to the need for further development of occupational medicine in the country, noted the need to update normative-legal acts in the field of occupational medicine, with the expansion of research in the field of occupational health, opening a laboratory of personal protective equipment and industrial exoskeletons, pointed out the possibility of strengthening cooperation with regions and industrial enterprises on the management of occupational risks and development of scientific programs.

The issues of development and introduction of standards for rehabilitation of patients with occupational diseases, primary medical prophylaxis for persons working in harmful and hazardous labor conditions, taking into account international practice, were raised.