The XI Republican scientific and practical conference with international participation "Priority areas of rehabilitation and balneology" is being held in Astana. The event discusses the introduction of new methods of rehabilitation, diagnosis and rehabilitation of neurological disabling diseases, the use of innovative technical means of rehabilitation and many others. During the discussion, experts from different countries positively assessed the ongoing work on the development of rehabilitation in Kazakhstan.
The conference is organized by the NGO "Association of Rehabilitologists and Balneologists" together with the National Scientific Center for the Development of the Social Protection sector of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is held in a hybrid format (offline/online).
The event was attended by Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Svetlana Zhakupova, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Kazakhstan Khalkyna Foundation Lyazzat Chinkisbayeva, Deputy of the Mazhilis of Parliament Dinara Naumova, domestic and foreign (Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia) experts in the field of rehabilitation, specialists of sanatorium institutions, representatives of NGOs, and also companies producing medical and specialized equipment and medicines.
In her welcoming speech, Svetlana Zhakupova noted that today 732 thousand people with disabilities live in Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as LSI). The deterioration of the environmental situation, the high morbidity rate of parents (especially mothers), a number of unresolved socio-economic, psychological, pedagogical and medical problems contribute to an increase in the number of children with disabilities, of which there are more than 110 thousand.
"The Head of State has set the Government the task of improving the quality of life of LSI and forming an inclusive society in which every member is given equal opportunities in all spheres of life.
The Republic is implementing a National plan to ensure the rights and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities until 2025. The Ministry, together with the expert community, taking into account the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, has developed a draft Concept of an inclusive policy until 2030. Its main innovation is the creation of conditions for the transition from a medico-social to a socio-human rights model of disability. The document provides for the adoption of a set of effective measures aimed at creating the necessary conditions for the full-fledged social integration of people with special needs into society.
Rehabilitation is one of the most important aspects in the process of improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. This is a complex of medical, psychological, pedagogical, socio-economic measures aimed at eliminating or fully compensating for the limitations of life caused by a health disorder," Svetlana Zhakupova said.
The Minister noted that a multidisciplinary approach, including medical, social and pedagogical areas of work, is important in the rehabilitation of children.
The head of the Ministry of Health also spoke about the ongoing work in the framework of the implementation of the Social Code.
"A project has been launched to send children with disabilities to sanatorium treatment in accordance with individual rehabilitation and habilitation programs.
From 2025, the social security system will switch to per capita financing of special social services (hereinafter referred to as SSS) with the involvement of private business. This measure will expand the network of organizations providing special social services and bring them to remote rural settlements.
In addition, licensing of organizations providing SSAS is being introduced from 2025. This will ensure their compliance with standards and protect the rights of people with special needs.
A digital diary of rehabilitation of children with disabilities at home is also being introduced. This decision will make it possible to track the dynamics and the achieved effect of rehabilitation measures," Svetlana Zhakupova said.
The Minister stressed that technical means of rehabilitation (hereinafter referred to as TSR) play a huge role in the complex of rehabilitation measures and in the daily life of people with special needs. Thanks to the Social Services Portal, LSI is given the opportunity to independently choose rehabilitation equipment and their suppliers. At the same time, control over the quality of the TSR provided has been strengthened.
"This year, together with the Kazakhstan Khalkyna Public Foundation, we have launched pilot projects "Needs assessment and selection of TSR" and "Rehabilitation of children with disabilities at home." Within the framework of these projects, children with disabilities are provided with innovative TSR for rehabilitation activities at home. In a short period of time, parents of children and specialists have noted positive dynamics: someone has learned to stand, someone is sitting confidently. I hope that these projects will be successfully implemented and further scaled up in all regions of the country," Svetlana Zhakupova said.
In turn, Deputy Director General of the National Scientific Center for the Development of the Sphere of Social Protection of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Rehabilitologists and Balneologists Sholpan Bulekbayeva spoke in detail about these pilot projects.
"The main objectives of the projects are: compliance with the principle of individuality and the selection of the right TSR; providing children with disabilities with high-quality, effective, safe and scientifically based TSR aimed at improving the quality of life of children with disabilities; the introduction of technologies that provide children with disabilities with independent living skills, including career guidance, the organization of accompanied day employment.
To date, 73 children are engaged in individually selected technical means of rehabilitation. Specialists monitor classes through a special mobile application," the speaker noted.
Within the framework of the two-day conference, 7 panel sessions will be organized, during which experts will discuss a wide range of issues. These include the introduction of innovative TSR, diagnosis and rehabilitation of neurological diseases, the use of botulinum therapy and orthotics, effective methods in balneology and rehabilitation: from nutritional to psychological support, modern approaches in neurodevelopment, the role of NGOs and patient organizations in rehabilitation.
During the discussion, experts from different countries positively assessed the ongoing work on the development of rehabilitation in Kazakhstan.
"I would like to note the rapid pace of development of the state, including infrastructure, high technologies and innovations, as well as the deep interest of government officials in the development of the social sphere and further modernization. We have a rich experience of cooperation between Greek doctors and rehabilitation specialists in Kazakhstan, when patients achieved successful results after surgical interventions in Greece and subsequent intensive rehabilitation in Kazakhstan, which indicates a high level of development of the rehabilitation and social sector in the country," said the CEO of Global Medical Top Partners (Greece) Sam Awad.
"Over the past five years, I have noted the dynamic development and support of an individual approach to the needs of people with disabilities from both the relevant Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and responsible market participants. A Social Services Portal has been developed and implemented, the TSR classifier has been revised and updated, constant work is underway to introduce advanced techniques and innovative products, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, and put the interests of people with disabilities at the forefront of all processes," said Andrey Finogenov, head of business development at the international prosthetic and orthopedic concern Ottobock.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/enbek/press/news/details/883091