V Congress of Neurosurgeons of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the National Center for Neurosurgery

Thursday,  29  Июнь  2023

From June 29 to June 30, 2023, Astana hosts the V Congress of Neurosurgeons of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the National Center for Neurosurgery. The Congress of Neurosurgeons of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a meeting place for Kazakhstani neurosurgeons, where topical issues on the organization of neurosurgical service in the Republic of Kazakhstan, new technologies, equipment standards for neurosurgical departments, training of neurosurgical personnel and others are traditionally discussed.

At the Congress, the Head of the National Center for Neurosurgery, Chief Neurosurgeon of the country, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Prof. Serik Akshulakov spoke about the results of the activities of the National Center for Neurosurgery for 15 years, provided statistics and analysis of the country's neurosurgical service and dwelled on the existing problems in neurosurgery.

“Over 15 years, for the first time in Kazakhstan, new areas of neurosurgery have been introduced - these are microneurosurgery, the treatment of vascular neurosurgical pathologies, including endovascular neurosurgery, reconstructive operations for lesions of the spine and spinal cord, functional neurosurgery, the use of neuromodulation and neuronavigation systems for tumors and other pathologies of the brain, etc. In total, 70 innovative technologies have been introduced. Over the years, more than 40 thousand operations have been performed, of which III-V category of complexity is 90%. Previously, before the opening of the Center, about 80% of patients with neurosurgical pathologies did not receive high-tech treatment in the country. Over the past 15 years, 64 technologies have been transferred to the regions, thanks to which high-tech medical care is provided in many areas. To date, high-tech neurosurgical treatment is available to all Kazakhstanis and all of them are successfully applied at the Center.

Referring to the analysis of the neurosurgical service, we see tremendous growth and change. If in 2007 there were 1,191 neurosurgical beds, 223 neurosurgeons, and 5,516 operations per year in the country, today this number has increased significantly. Now the number of operations is 29,723 operations per year. In other words, with a 2-fold increase in the number of neurosurgeons, the total number of operations performed increased by more than 5 times. This indicates the quality of work, the improvement of the qualifications of doctors and the improvement of their skills.

Today, the neurosurgical service of Kazakhstan is represented by the National Center for Neurosurgery and 51 neurosurgical departments, which are located on the basis of 39 regional and city hospitals. However, there are still some problems. These are the uneven provision of neurosurgeons, neurosurgical beds in the regions and equipment problems. The number of neurosurgical beds for children is low, in some regions they are completely absent. We will certainly discuss all these issues at tomorrow's meeting, outline the tasks and draw up long-term plans for further improvement and development of neurosurgery in Kazakhstan,” Serik Akshulakov noted at the V Congress of Neurosurgeons of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

It should be noted that by developing such priority areas as spinal minimally invasive neurosurgery, vascular and functional neurosurgery, endoscopic neurosurgery, the National Center for Neurosurgery has made a great contribution to the treatment of patients with neurosurgical nosologies, thereby reducing mortality and disability of the population from neurosurgical pathologies.

Serik Akshulakov also noted that the Qazaqstan Halqyna Foundation will provide charitable assistance to equip the children's neurosurgical departments of the regions with the necessary equipment and tools. “As you know, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the public social fund “Qazaqstan Halqyna” was created in 2022 to solve problems in the field of healthcare, education and social support. One of the activities of the Fund is assistance in the material and technical equipment of functional equipment and inventory that is relevant throughout the country. And following the results of the Year of the Children in Kazakhstan and in order to provide assistance to the children's neurosurgical services of the regions, the Foundation will provide charitable assistance to equip the children's neurosurgical departments of the regions with the necessary equipment and tools".

At the grand opening of the Congress was attended by: Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Duysenova T.B., Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Giniyat A.G., Chairman of the CEC of the Republic of Kazakhstan Abdirov N.M., Deputy of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alnazarova A. Sh., Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Eleuov G.A. and the first heads of Research Institutes and Medical Centers.

More than 250 participants also took part in the Congress, including more than 150 neurosurgeons from all over Kazakhstan.

On June 30, during the program of the Congress, the most important issues in the field of neurosurgery will be discussed