Ministry of Health Responds to Ambulance Drivers' Debt Case

Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova had promised to look into the case involving former ambulance drivers in Astana who were ordered to pay multimillion-tenge debts for service vehicles damaged in road accidents, Orda.kz reports.

However, just a few days later, the Ministry of Health sent a written response to the editorial office, referring to court rulings and labor legislation:

In accordance with the employment contract, drivers of company vehicles bear full financial responsibility for ensuring the safety of the material assets entrusted to them by the enterprise. In the event of an accident, they are obliged to compensate for damages in accordance with the court decision. The Interdistrict Court for Administrative Offenses of Astana found Nurlan Y. guilty of committing an accident. The court satisfied the claim and recovered from Zh. S. Amangarinov the amount of 6,051,000 tenge, as well as 181,530 tenge in legal costs.

In its response, the Ministry refers to court decisions that have already been made without addressing a key detail that could have affected the outcome. Verbally, officials added that both drivers failed to undergo a medical examination after the incident — a detail that became a significant stumbling block.

However, one of the drivers, Nurlan Yerkebulan, told Orda.kz that he had contacted station engineers immediately after the accident, and they explicitly discouraged him from undergoing the medical check.

Had the examination been carried out and confirmed that the driver was in a proper state, it might have influenced the court’s ruling — particularly regarding the degree of fault and the potential to share responsibility.

Do ambulance drivers receive proper instructions on post-accident protocol? Are there clear procedures in place, and are drivers made aware of them?

Notably, during a press conference in the Majilis, the Minister stated that forcing ambulance drivers to pay for vehicle repairs is “unacceptable” and added:

This is the direct responsibility of the organization to which this emergency medical service belongs and the first director.

The Ministry also addressed why drivers involved in accidents must pay large sums and why they are not allowed to repair the vehicles themselves, even if it would be more affordable.

According to the response, ambulances are specialized vehicles that cannot be fixed like regular cars. Before returning to service, they undergo testing, including crash tests, and require safety certification.

Allowing drivers to repair their vehicles themselves may compromise the safety of their operation and may not comply with warranty and maintenance requirements. In addition, repairs outside of authorized service centers may lead to service problems or non-compliance with safety standards,
 the Ministry of Health wrote.

The Ministry further noted that in 2024, the capital’s ambulance service outsourced vehicle repairs through a public procurement process:

All major maintenance and repair work on ambulances is performed by a supplier selected through a state tender procedure. This approach has allowed us to optimize processes, reduce costs and improve the quality of service, as well as ensure a higher degree of specialization and professionalism in the performance of work.

Meanwhile, the drivers — Nurlan Yerkebulan and Zhasulan Amangarinov — told Orda.kz that following Minister Alnazarova’s public promise to “sort things out,” no one from the Ministry of Health has contacted them.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova