In Kazakhstan, a debate is intensifying over the need to tighten control over medical institutions offering dubious autism treatments. The National Association 'Autism Kazakhstan' has called for holding unscrupulous clinics accountable for misleading parents with promises of a complete cure, reports infohub.kz.
The statement was prompted by the high-profile detention in Russia of Vasily Generalov, head of the clinic 'PlanetaMed', where children with autism were offered treatment with antiparasitic drugs. Kazakhstani parents, learning about this from the media, have mass-appealed to the association for an assessment of the situation.
The association emphasizes that similar clinics operate with impunity in Kazakhstan. 'In Kazakhstan, we also need to introduce control and hold heads of similar clinics accountable for misleading a large number of parents. Currently, unscrupulous clinics and individuals offering miracle cures for autism with unproven methods are opening and operating with absolute impunity,' the organization stated.
The association insists on strengthening control by the Ministry of Health and amending the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan 'On People's Health and the Healthcare System' regarding relevant powers. 'Systemic measures are needed,' the organization stressed. Association representatives have been seeking such measures since 2019 and intend to continue this work.
Recall that on August 15, a Moscow court arrested Vasily Generalov, director of 'PlanetaMed', and placed another doctor under house arrest. The decision was made after numerous complaints from parents of patients. According to the Russian 'Medvestnik', the clinic promised to cure autism with enemas, antiparasitic courses, hormones, and stem cells. Parents claim that after such therapy, children's conditions worsened, and treatment costs amounted to millions of rubles.
Earlier, searches were conducted at the medical facility. Russian media reported that investigators are establishing the circumstances of medical care provided to patients and possible harm to their health. As reported by Ren-TV, preliminary data suggests the number of victims may exceed 500 people. Parents of patients have repeatedly complained about the clinic's operations and the methods used. Now investigators must determine the circle of victims, the circumstances of the incident, and the possible extent of damage.
It is important to note that there is no proven 'cure for autism'. Earlier, 'Kursiv' wrote about how a child with autism from Kazakhstan died after dubious treatment in Tashkent. Following that, the 'Autism Kazakhstan' association appealed to parents, reminding them that neurologists, nutritionists, massage therapists, osteopaths, integrative medicine doctors, psychologists, and other specialists cannot cure autism. The diagnosis is made only by a child psychiatrist, and there is currently no medication for this condition worldwide. All so-called 'treatment protocols' without an evidence base pose a risk to the child's health and life.
Earlier, the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Republic of Kazakhstan shared the results of a WHO review over the past 15 years, stating that vaccines and thiomersal do not increase the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders in children.