Kazakhstan proposes video badges to protect healthcare workers from attacks

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare is exploring the use of video badges for healthcare workers and considering insurance coverage for those in high-risk professions / Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Milosh Muratovskiy

Emergency medical teams in Kazakhstan may soon be equipped with video badges to record incidents and help protect them from attacks, according to Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova. The Mazhilis, Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, recently approved the ministry’s other proposal to criminalize violence against healthcare workers.

«One of the key issues is the possibility of equipping our employees with video badges, similar to those used by law enforcement agencies. This matter will also be legally regulated and I don’t think it will be difficult to implement,» Alnazarova said during a briefing at the Mazhilis.

She also highlighted ongoing discussions about insurance for medics working in high-risk professions.

«We discussed this issue yesterday with all the heads of emergency medical service organizations and it remains on our agenda,» the minister added.

These new initiatives come in the wake of a recent incident in Kostanay, where paramedic Anel Baimurzina was attacked by relatives of a deceased patient.

According to the Ministry of Healthcare, nine cases of violence against medics have been recorded in Kazakhstan so far in 2024, compared to 80 in 2023. The ministry has pledged to take strict action against such incidents and to further strengthen safety measures for healthcare workers.