The Mazhilis (lower house) of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan has adopted a law aimed at strengthening criminal liability for violence against medical workers and ambulance drivers. This was reported by the Zamon.uz publication.
According to the adopted law, a new article is introduced into the Criminal Code, defining violence against medical workers as a separate criminal offense. For violence committed under aggravating circumstances, imprisonment from 7 to 12 years is envisaged; without aggravating circumstances, imprisonment from 5 to 10 years is envisaged.
Furthermore, for acts of violence that do not pose a direct threat to the life and health of medical workers, a fine of up to 7,600 US dollars, up to 600 hours of compulsory community service, or restriction of liberty for up to 3 years is established. Threatening medical workers with violence is also assessed as a crime, for which imprisonment for up to 3 years is envisaged.
This law was adopted following a series of high-profile incidents. In particular, a surgeon at a hospital in the Kostanay region was placed in intensive care in serious condition after being attacked. Following this incident, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave instructions to toughen penalties for crimes against medical workers.
Additionally, Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova, in July of this year, called on citizens to stop violence against medical workers and reported that security measures at medical institutions had been strengthened.
