Air traffic management equipment deployed in Shymkent for the first time
Casual Take on Shymkent's Covid-19 Prep
Check out LLP "Kazmedpribor" in Shymkent, where they crank out more than 300 types of medical gear, including ventilators. Akim Murat Aytiev dropped by to get the lowdown on their readiness for a potential Covid-19 resurgence.
Aytiev mentioned that the city's hospitals have been ordered to produce the initial batch of 88 ventilators, with additional medical equipment like monitors, dispensers, and pulse oximeters on the shopping list, totaling 32 types.
"In the upcoming days, our hospitals and clinics will be rolling out new equipment," Aytiev shared. "Currently, we're localizing about 60% of production, but I think we'll ratchet that up to 80% soon."
Shymkent's hospitals are prepped with 5000 beds for the second wave. Last time around, the city had 3810 beds. Aytiev added that they've beefed up the healthcare system with three CT scanners, doubled the number of ventilators, increased oxygen points, and ICU beds, and ran three emergency response drills to ensure seamless coordination.
Remote treatment for kiddos is also gaining traction, with 211 mobile medical teams on standby. The situation remains stable in Shymkent, with infections and contacts closely monitored, prompting Aytiev to keep a close eye on neighboring regions, especially the East Kazakhstan region. In the event of a surge in cases, Shymkent can deploy an additional 5000 beds in a day's notice.
A total of 6.6 billion tenge was allocated in 2020 for the city's medical institutions' equipment, six times more than the previous year. Aytiev mentioned that this expansion will generate new jobs, replenish the city's coffers, and encourage fresh talent to master modern technologies in the field.
Snippets of Additional Insight
- National Center of Expertise (NCE) has been active in promoting sanitary and epidemiological safety through seminars and training across Kazakhstan [1].
- Power International Holding (PIH) is planning to construct and manage medical facilities, which may involve medical equipment production in the future [5].
- Kazakhstan is witnessing economic growth in mineral extraction and expanding investments in key sectors, offering a favorable climate for industrial development, including potential medical equipment production [4].
In light of the growing need for medical equipment, Shymkent's local hospitals and clinics are planning to integrate advanced technologies from fields like science and health-and-wellness into their operations, as highlighted by Akim Murat Aytiev. To better handle medical-conditions related to a potential Covid-19 resurgence, the city is investing significantly in production, aiming to localize nearly 80% of specific medical equipment production, such as ventilators, monitors, dispensers, and pulse oximeters.
