“Intensive care is the last chance for patients. It is here that intensive care doctors find themselves on the front lines in the most critical situations when other departments can no longer help: severe injuries, complications after surgeries, exacerbations of chronic diseases. Elderly people often end up in our unit. This is the daily work of our team,” Aaliyev noted.
According to him, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of displaced persons from the Chui region who come to Naryn for treatment. Many of them recover successfully.
However, the problem of staff shortages remains relevant. According to the staffing schedule, the unit should have at least 13-14 doctors, while currently, there is a shortage of six specialists. Only two doctors are working at each post, which creates additional difficulties and increases responsibility. Young medical workers are leaving the region in search of better conditions.
Some doctors take on additional work and shifts in the unit, but the reason for this is the low salaries in the Naryn region. Young specialists cannot afford to live on such wages and are looking for more lucrative offers in the capital or abroad. Over the past eight years, four doctors have left the unit, moving to Germany, where they are attracted by higher salaries and opportunities for professional development.
Moreover, many young doctors prefer private clinics, where salaries are significantly higher. Some are going to Russia, where a doctor can earn up to 140,000 rubles for one position, while in Naryn, two positions can yield about 40,000 soms.
All of this leads to a brain drain. Despite the challenges and lack of specialists, doctors continue to work without breaks, but they are already feeling fatigued. “We are training interns and clinical residents, hoping that more young specialists will join our ranks,” Aaliyev shared his thoughts.
He added that currently, the Naryn region is short of 141 doctors.
“There are practically no young medical professionals; mostly, doctors of middle and older age work here, many of whom are nearing retirement. This is alarming. The shortage of doctors is a serious threat to public health. The problem exists, but its solution is being delayed,” he said.
When the minister visited, we openly laid out our main problems. Are we expecting help and new specialists? At the moment, there is no clear answer, but the situation is worsening every day.
People expect wisdom and experience from doctors, but even a young specialist who has studied for nine years deserves respect. If he is ignored and not valued, he will not withstand the pressure. This also needs to be taken into account.
Few are aware that the official fixed salary of a doctor is only 16,500 soms for one position. A young doctor who has just completed training receives only 15,000 soms, taking into account the coefficient for working in high-altitude areas. This is a shocking reality.
In private clinics or abroad, the situation is completely different. In Europe and America, doctors are among the highest-paid specialists, especially intensivists, who are respected and receive decent salaries.
In our country, doctors work to the limit. For example, if a teacher works 86 hours, it is considered one position, while a doctor must work 164 hours to earn the same. At the same time, his salary is half that of a teacher's. Where is the justice? The government should seriously reconsider this issue.
Doctors are often not at home, working day and night, but their salaries remain unchanged. Currently, there are only 5 doctors in our unit — this is catastrophically low for the volume of work required,” concluded the head of the intensive care unit.
