Harsh penalties planned for attacks on medical workers in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova announced that a separate article addressing attacks on medical workers is planned to be added to the country’s Criminal Code.
During a government press conference, the minister stated that the corresponding amendments were developed on the instructions of the Head of State.

“Indeed, we have drafted the proposed norms. We are currently working with the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and have received preliminary positive conclusions,” the minister noted.

“It is proposed to introduce a new article — 158-1 of the Criminal Code. It will provide for punishment for threats or use of violence against medical workers.”
Specifically:

For recorded threats — up to 2 years of restricted freedom;
For use of violence — 2 to 7 years of imprisonment;
If the crime is committed during a state of emergency — up to 10 years;
If the attack threatens a group of medical workers and is committed by multiple individuals — up to 15 years of imprisonment.

The minister emphasized that these measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of healthcare workers.

“These are quite adequate measures to protect our medical workers. They will be submitted to Parliament in September,” Alnazarova concluded.

Additionally, journalists asked the minister whether she had faced aggression from patients at the start of her career.

“I began as a nurse and an emergency room doctor. In those years, more than 30 years ago, such incidents did not occur. The fact that we are now registering such cases monthly indicates that the situation is critical,” the minister said.

At the government briefing, Deputy Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev reminded that the problem of attacks on medical workers, which has stirred Kazakh society, is not new.
According to him, as far back as 10 years ago, authorities began to notice that ambulances were being blocked on the road, and gradually this escalated into physical assaults. Such behavior, in his opinion, comes from people who “believe they are in the right.”
Earlier, President Tokayev had instructed to toughen penalties for attacks on medical workers.