The Ministry of Health: Birtanov's Integration Nowhere to Be Found

Vice Minister of Health Yerbol Ospanov discussed establishing connections between medical databases and the medicine supply system. The system was created under the convicted ex-minister Yelzhan Birtanov.

However, the new Ministry team did not find the integration and is now making its own, Orda.kz reports.

Vice Minister Yerbol Ospanov spoke at a briefing at the Central Communications Service about innovations in the digitalization of the medical services system. Journalists asked where the promised integration of medical information systems (MIS) and outpatient medicine provision (AMP) was. 

Earlier, former Minister of Health Yelzhan Birtanov spoke about such integration, created in 2021. 

I don't know what it was like 3-4 years ago, but now there is no such integration. Unfortunately, there is no integration between the medical information system and the medicine supply information system, which operates within the guaranteed free volume for patients under dynamic observation (the ALO system). I visited medical organizations and saw that the doctor first fills out the data and prescriptions for the patient in the MIS, and then manually enters the same data into the medicine supply system so that the pharmacy in the same medical organization issues the prescribed medications, said Osanov.

According to him, specialists from the Ministry of Health study the lack of integration and propose solutions. 

From November 18 of this year, we plan to introduce the integration of the drug supply system throughout Kazakhstan at the first stage with the MIS "Damumed" since 85% of medical organizations work with it. Then, when other MIS are ready, they will also launch the integration in quickly. Due to this, we plan to ensure transparency of the provision of medicines within the ALO, that is, free medicines via prescriptions,Ospanov clarified.

The Ministry of Health also says that eight types of medical certificates will be issued only electronically from the beginning of next year. Information systems are being integrated through the Outpatient and Polyclinic Care IS to transfer these services to electronic format.

The following medical certificates will be converted to electronic format:

• Sick leave
• 075/u "Medical certificate"
• 026/u "Medical Examining Board Conclusion"
• 073/u "Certificate of admission to driving a vehicle"
• 069/u "Sanatorium and resort card"
• 052-2/у “Child’s health passport”
• 076/u "Obtaining a weapons permit"
• 038/u "Certificate of temporary disability"

Yelzhan Birtanov was the Minister of Health from 2017 to 2020. During the pandemic, he fell ill and resigned.

Reports on Birtanov's arrest surfaced in November 2020. He was suspected of embezzling approximately 526 million tenge from the budget allocated for digitalization.

After lengthy proceedings, Birtanov was sentenced to 5 years of restricted freedom for abuse of authority (Article 361, Part 4, Clause 3 of the Criminal Code). Meanwhile, former Vice Minister Olzhas Abishev received 4 years of restricted freedom. The court deprived them of the right to hold civil service positions for life.

On March 14, 2023, Yelzhan Birtanov became an adviser to the chair of the Republican Trade Union of Medical  Workers, QazMed.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya