Kazakhstan's Health Ministry is launching a comprehensive inspection of all perinatal centers in the country to prevent hospital-acquired infections among mothers and newborns, reports infohub.kz.
The head of the ministry, Akmaral Alnazarova, emphasized that the main goal of the inspections is not to impose fines but to identify and eliminate risks, as well as to audit compliance with sanitary standards. According to the ministry, 69 maternity care facilities will be inspected by specialists from the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control by August 15.
“Every case of infection should be a reason for professional analysis and decision-making that will help improve patient safety,” Alnazarova said.
The minister also instructed to revise the current methods for investigating infectious cases, update sanitary rules and state control checklists, with emphasis on prevention and objective assessment of the causes of each incident. Regional health departments have been tasked with providing medical facilities with necessary resources for disinfection and sterilization, personal protective equipment, modern equipment and disposable supplies, as well as organizing staff training on infection control. The Committee for Medical and Pharmaceutical Control will strengthen oversight over compliance with prescription requirements for antibiotics.
Based on the inspection results, each region plans to approve roadmaps for further improving the infection control system. Earlier, it was reported that Kazakhstan intends to study the impact of extreme heat on the condition of pregnant women and infants.