A fresh scandal has erupted on Kazakhstan's social media over the wardrobe of Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova. The heated debate was triggered by footage filmed at medical facilities during her trip to Almaty, according to infohub.kz.
Social media users scrutinized the minister's footwear in the video. This time, she was spotted wearing Gucci loafers with the brand's signature hardware.
"Folks, I consider this mockery. Health Minister Alnazarova in a children's hospital wearing Gucci loafers. They don't have money for children with rare orphan diseases, they can't fund expensive medicines, but there's always money for shoes — first Valentino, now Gucci, tomorrow — I dread to imagine," the post reads.
Previously, social media users had already criticized the head of the Health Ministry for wearing luxury Valentino and Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, a Fendi bag, and other premium-brand wardrobe items. Now attention has shifted to the Gucci loafers.
In the comments, users expressed outrage at the contrast between the official's luxurious wardrobe and the real incomes of doctors, as well as the state of regional healthcare. Others noted that a successful woman has the right to look stylish and expensive.
"For five years we've been unable to get a new hospital for our village, alas,"
"I work as a doctor in two places, naturally I want to buy expensive things with my earned money. It's very wrong to interfere in someone else's life. Whoever wants to dress how they want, strives for it, earns and buys,"
"Well, honestly, for her position, such sneakers for 500,000 aren't that luxurious," users write.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that starting in October, Kazakhstan will begin mass checks on how easily patients can get an appointment with doctors. The measure was taken after Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova was outraged that people cannot book appointments with local and specialist doctors even when there are available slots.