Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alexey Tsoy at the 31st Special Session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to countering the COVID-19

Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alexey Tsoy at the 31st Special Session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to countering the COVID-19

Statement by Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alexey Tsoy at the 31st Special Session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to countering the COVID-19 pandemic

(3-4 December 2020, video message)

 

Mr. Chairman,

Secretary-General,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

 

Let me welcome you to the 31st Special Session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to countering the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and on my own behalf.

The Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly noted that the protection of public health is one of the key priorities, which is given special attention by the country's leadership, and the importance of creating a global health care system with the support of developed countries and UN agencies. This became especially evident against the backdrop of a pandemic that has spread throughout the world, the victory over which is possible through joint and coordinated efforts.

I express my gratitude and appreciation to all countries that have provided humanitarian and practical assistance to the people of Kazakhstan in the fight against COVID-19 and the World Health Organization for the methodological and humanitarian assistance provided during this very difficult period.

The coronavirus epidemic has demonstrated the key importance of international cooperation, collaboration and support in the fight against infection.

Since the first weeks of the pandemic, the Government of Kazakhstan has directed all efforts to develop measures to ensure economic stability and counter the spread of infection:

  • There were created the Interdepartmental Commission chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the operational headquarter for COVID-19 issues chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
  • the republican headquarters of experts on epidemiological situations was created under the Ministry of Health;
  • the National Action Plan is being implemented to prevent the emergence and spread of CVI in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
  • the powers of the Chief state sanitary doctor have been strengthened;
  • the COVID-19 Control Center web application was introduced;
  • the sanitary-epidemiological and migration control at the checkpoints across the state border has been strengthened;
  • work on ensuring the availability of testing is continuing. To date, more than 3.6 million tests have been carried out, the maximum capacity is more than 71 thousand tests per day.
  • in order to prevent the incidence and spread of COVID-19 among schoolchildren, from the beginning of the school year, daily monitoring of the incidence among schoolchildren has been carried out;
  • In order to monitor compliance with quarantine measures in all regions, mobile monitoring groups have been created that conduct raids and identify quarantine violations;
  • a two-month supply of drugs for COVID-19 was formed;
  • a regularly replenished monthly stock of medicines has been formed in all medical organizations of the country in the amount of more than 50 million US dollars.
  • free outpatient drug provision for CVI patients with pneumonia was organized
  • a reserve for masks and PPE was created;
  • a number of measures were taken to equip hospitals
  • more than 1200 ambulance vehicles were purchased and 100 mobile medical complexes were delivered to the regions;
  • advanced training courses were held for all medical personnel on courses in epidemiology, etc.
  • 16 infectious complexes for patients with coronavirus were built that meet international standards for infectious safety.

Thus, in Kazakhstan, the necessary measures are being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the preparedness of the health care system for an increase in the incidence.

More than 2 billion US dollars have been allocated to fight COVID this year.

Kazakh scientists have developed a vaccine against COVID-19, which is included in the WHO list, and is successfully passing clinical trials.

COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the need to strengthen work in providing high-quality and affordable medical care to the population at the primary care level. Thus, as part of the 73rd World Health Assembly, 194 WHO Member States endorsed the launch of the Primary Health Care Operational Framework for further promotion of the Astana Declaration on PHC.  We ask countries to support and participate on 14 December 2020 in an online event dedicated to the official launch of the Operational Framework.

Dear Mr. Chair, Dear Secretary-General, Excellencies, Dear Delegates,

The fight against COVID-19 is not over yet. I am convinced that through joint efforts, a coordinated response, we will be able to stop the spread of COVID-2019 in our regions.

Thank you!