Medical and social institutions will be opened to the public
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan has developed a set of measures to improve the work of medical and social institutions (hereinafter – MSI). Yerlan Aukenov, Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population gave relevant recommendations and orders during a working meeting held in the mode of video conference with the participation of deputy akims of regions and cities of republican significance.
A wide public outcry was caused by violations of the rights of wards of local self-government under the jurisdiction of local executive bodies. The death of 4 children from the Ayagoz children’s center for special social services, the outbreak of a coronavirus with fatal outcomes in a nursing home in the Akmola region, and the abuse of wards in a center for children with psychoneurological diseases in Turkestan region revealed a number of systemic problems.
In this regard, the authorized state bodies, together with the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan, will carry out comprehensive inspections of 136 state MSI.
In addition, in the near future, together with the deputy akims of the regions, the work of institutions will be inspected by civil activists, journalists, and representatives of public movements.
To improve the quality of life of the wards, it is planned to amend the current legislation.
At MSI, public councils will be created, which will include relatives and friends of the wards, reputable industry experts, members of public councils under akimats, and NGO representatives. They will monitor the observance of the rights of service recipients, including the expenditure of funds in control cash accounts.
Information about all MSI will be entered into the database of the portal of social services.
On the portal “Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities” (inva.gov.kz), a rating of institutions with feedback will be formed, where everyone can leave comments on the activities of local self-government.
In addition, service recipients will be provided with Internet access.
It is planned to equip all institutions with video cameras through which relatives of the wards will be able to observe what is happening online.
It is also planned to repair buildings and update rehabilitation equipment, special vehicles.
Local executive bodies are recommended to establish institutions located in remote areas in large cities and regional centers.
The social workers will be assigned volunteers who will help the staff of the centers.
It is worth noting that many of the measures taken are standard in international practice. For example, public participation in the development and quality control of social services exists in the UK, Denmark, Germany, France, and the USA.
Transparency of financial statements is widespread in the corporate sector of Australia, the USA and European countries.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan plans to make the necessary changes to the relevant regulatory legal acts in the nearest future.
Recall that at present, 931 organizations provide special social services. Among them 136 state MSI, in which about 36 thousand people live. The service recipients are 8 categories of citizens in difficult life situations.Press office
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan