Kazakhstan scientists and experts propose to establish a single time zone in the country

The final meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the calculation of time in Kazakhstan was held in Astana.

The working group was established in February this year in connection with repeated requests of Kazakhstanis to switch to the most favorable time zone. During the year, Kazakhstani scientists and experts from various industries studied the issue of establishing a single time zone on the territory of Kazakhstan.

The working group included scientists of «Astrophysical Institute named after F.G.Fesenkov», «Institute of Genetics and Physiology», «Institute of Geography and Water Security», «Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry named after M.A. Aitkhozhin», «Kazakh Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology», as well as experts, public figures, members of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and representatives of government agencies.

Today Kazakhstan has two time zones UTC+5 and UTC+6. Most of the country's territory (except for the western regions) is located in the UTC+6 zone.

However, according to scientists, the UTC+6 time zone does not correspond to natural solar time, which negatively affects biological rhythms and human health. In particular, experts propose a variant in which in the regions and cities living under the capital time, the clocks will be switched back one hour (UTC+5). Thus, a unified time will be established throughout Kazakhstan.

«This is an issue I have been dealing with for more than 10 years. According to scientific consensus, it is best for human health to use permanent time zones that are as close as possible to solar, i.e. natural time. From the position of research institutes and my fellow scientists, the transition to a single time UTC+5 throughout Kazakhstan is the most optimal of all previously proposed options», – said Bolat Nurkhozhaev, a specialist in applied chronobiology.

The Ministry of Health has a similar position and believes that bringing the time zone in line with the natural time will have a favorable impact on the health of Kazakhstanis.

«Most of the population of Kazakhstan lives outside their geographic time zone. A group of experts, professors-physiologists have been studying this issue for a year. From the position of physiology and functioning of the body, hormonal balance, we are of the opinion that with the transition to the UTC+5 time zone we will wake up, awake and lie down in accordance with the biological clock of our body», - said the Director of the Department of Science and Human Resources of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Daulet Aldyngurov.

According to Kureish Khamchiev, head of the Department of Normal Physiology at «Astana» Medical University, outrunning the natural course of time contributes to the emergence of chronic fatigue and diseases.

«Desynchronosis, what is now happening in many regions, that is, the mismatch of biological rhythms, is the cause of prolonged increased fatigue, depression, insomnia, reduced efficiency. All these are risk factors for cardiovascular, cancer and other diseases. Circadian or biological rhythms are an integral part of our lives and it is extremely difficult to resist these circadian stresses. Therefore, it is necessary to synchronize the natural rhythms of the population of the entire republic», – he said.

Experts also note that in addition to health benefits, the establishment of a single time zone will eliminate time barriers between residents of different regions of the country, improve coordination of transport and other communications, favorably affect the conduct of business, as well as the interaction of government agencies and emergency services.

The Working Group also studied international experience. For example, 175 countries around the world have a single time zone. Only 22 states live in more than one time zone.

As a result of the working group meeting, a Report based on scientific arguments and conclusions was prepared and approved, which will be sent to the relevant government agencies.