SES lab studies planned to be transferred to district level

A part of laboratory research functions of the sanitary epidemiological service are planned to be transferred to the district level and into competitive milieu. Anatoly Belonog, vice minister of health, has stated this today, July 16, at a press conference in Astana, KZ-today correspondent reports.

"Special attention in the state programme of the healthcare system reform will be paid to a transfer of many lad studies to the district level, for which the draft programme contains financing in an amount of 7.7 billion tenge before 2010 in order to purchase and develop lab services for district and provincial sanitary epidemiological stations," - A. Belonog explained. At the same time, according to him, "a possibility that a part of lab functions will be transferred to the competitive milieu is not excluded." "It is a part of studies, which, of course, are not related with diagnostic, toxicological, radiological, virological studies directed at especially dangerous infections, the vice minister stressed.

Besides, according to A. Belonog, the draft programme "plans to transfer such serious diseases as tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases under supervision of the state sanitary epidemiological control bodies."

The programme also "outlines a number of measures on a move from strict administrative supervision to an educating and elucidating process of work with subordinate bodies." "It means a work with medium and small business representatives, heads of enterprises that produce and sell both food and industrial products and provide order at the water supply sources and other facilities under their supervision," - A. Belonog explained.