After discussions in the Mazhilis, the bill was sent to the Senate. Deputy Askat Aimagambetov noted that the new version clearly distinguishes between the concepts of violence and threats, allowing for separate accountability for each of these actions. Penalties for threats have been softened: the amount of community service has been reduced from 600 to 300 hours, fines have been lowered, and the term of imprisonment or restriction of freedom has been reduced from 3 to 2 years.
As for violence, the punishment for it remains unchanged. "We must protect doctors, who have no means of protection other than their knowledge and skills. The essence of this bill is not only to safeguard the rights of doctors but also to protect the health of the entire society. An attack on a doctor is not just a waste of time and treatment, but also a threat to the patient's life," emphasized Aimagambetov.
He also added that a surgeon with a hand injury sustained during an attack may not be able to perform thousands of surgeries, and an injured ambulance driver deprives an entire team of the ability to respond quickly to emergency calls.
System of Penalties
According to the draft law, various measures of accountability are provided for violence against medical workers and ambulance drivers while performing their official duties. If the violence does not threaten life or health, or if there is a threat of violence:- fine;
- corrective labor;
- community service up to 300 hours;
- restriction or deprivation of freedom for up to 2 years.
- restriction of freedom for a term of 3 to 7 years;
- deprivation of freedom for the same term.
Reasons for the Adoption of the Law
Kazakhstan has been facing high-profile cases of attacks on medical workers for several years now.- In October 2023, in Kokshetau, two men beat a medical worker who had responded to a call for a child with a high fever.
- In January 2024, in the Shortandy district of Akmolinsk region, a drunken patient attacked a paramedic who had come in response to a call at 3 a.m.
- In September of the same year, in the Beineu district of Mangistau region, a drunken man attacked ambulance workers and resisted the police.
- In December, in Kostanay, relatives of a sick woman beat a paramedic who had arrived on a call.
- In June of this year, a 38-year-old man attacked doctors at the children's hospital in Karaganda, resulting in them sustaining concussions and other injuries.
