Historical Event – the First Meeting of the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians!

The First Meeting of the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians took place June 17-18, 2009, in the building of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty.

The initiative of the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians (KAFP) and the Almaty Postgraduate Institute for Physicians (APGI) to conduct the conference was supported and approved by the Ministry of Health by issuing Order #102 dated February 26, 2009.

The First Meeting of the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of family medicine in Kazakhstan and the 10th anniversary for the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians. The conference served to promote and advocate patient-centered family medicine/general practice approaches based on international experiences to health policy makers, health managers, and health professionals, as well as to the population. It served to unite the efforts of state bodies, non-governmental and international organizations, health care facilities and higher education institutions to strengthen primary health care.

The meeting was held with support from USAID Project ZdravPlus (United States Agency for International Development).

D. Nugmanova, KAFP President (with flowers) and the delegates from Almaty oblast.	The delegates from Karaganda oblast.

At the conference, delegates discussed and accepted the resolution “Health Care System Improvement: Family Medicine Input in Development of the Health Care System in Kazakhstan”. This resolution was sent to the Ministry of Health for consideration.

The meeting was opened by Damilya Nugmanova, KAFP President. She then gave the floor to representatives of the Ministry of Health, USAID, APGI, Wonca (Global Family Doctor) and AAFP (American Association of Family Physicians).

 

After all the greetings, the nomination of “The Best Family Doctor of KAFP 1999-2009” was announced by Prof. Rakhipbekov, the chairman of the KAFP Board of Guardians. In accordance with the board’s decision, this nomination was presented to Kuanish Abil, family physician from Karaganda oblast. This doctor alone serves about 3000 patients in Kengir village, situated between Zhezkazgan and Satpaev cities.

 

Damilya Nugmanova, KAFP President announced the winners of ten nominations and awarded them with certificates and gifts:

	“The Most Numerous Branch of KAFP” – Nadezhda Nurkina, KAFP Branch Director in Almaty
	“The Most Effective KAFP Branch in Cooperation with State Bodies in 2009” – Tatiyana Ostretsova, KAFP Branch Director in Aktobe oblast
	“The Most Faithful Friend of Family Physicians in Kazakhstan ” – David Kuter, family physician, USA
	“The First Family Physician in Kazakhstan ” – Viktor Tilman, Head Physician of FGP “Tilman” in Zhezkazgan city
	“The Best KAFP Branch Director 2005-2009 (cost effectiveness, membership enrollment, active work with branch members)” – Zhanat Dzhaisanbayeva, KAFP Branch Director in Almaty oblast;
	“KAFP Branch that Won the Biggest Grants 2004-2009” – Raikhan Ospanova, KAFP Branch Director in Akmola oblast
	“For Courage and Strength of Mind” – Tatiyana Lukina, KAFP Branch Director in Semey city
	“The Most Popular FGP ( PHC Center ) in Kazakhstan ” – Roza Abzalova, Director of the FGP “Demeu” in Astana city
	“For the Continuous Quality Improvement of Health Care for Patients with Arterial Hypertension” – Ludmila Makazhanova, KAFP Branch Director in Karaganda oblast
	“The Most Stable Branch of KAFP” – Alma Makenbayeva, KAFP Branch Director in Zhezkazgan region.

 

Dr. Alfred W. T. Loh, Chief Executive Officer of Wonca sent warm greetings to KAFP. “Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians, a Full Member Organization of Wonca since 2003, should be proud of its efforts to promote GP/Family Medicine in Central Asia,” said Dr. Loh. “I am glad to learn that KAFP continues to play an active role in this regard and I am confident that the insights derived from its first meeting will add to this development,” he added.

Delegates from all oblasts of Kazakhstan, KAFP members, representatives of KAFP branches, Ministry of Health, medical educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, mass media, and KAFP partners participated in the meeting. Based on the number of their delegates, the most representative delegations were from Almaty oblast and Astana, Semey and Zhezkazgan cities There were 180 participants in the First Meeting of Kazakhstan Family Physicians which was held in an interactive format in which speakers talked on topical issues in family medicine and participants asked questions.

Viktor Tilman, head physician of FGP “Tilman” in Zhezkazgan city questions a speaker

Left to right: Bryn Sakagava, Director of Health Care and Education Department USAID/CAR, John Morgan, Deputy Regional Director USAID/CAR, Tolebay Rakhipbekov, Rector of Semey Medical University, Damilya Nugmanova, KAFP President, Head of Family Medicine Department of Almaty PGI, Sholpan Makhmudova, Head Specialist USAID/CAR	Delegates examining medical books

«We are delegates from Astana and we are glad to participate in the historical first meeting of Kazakhstan family physicians. We are impressed by the possibility to advance our own opinions and ask any questions. Especially we liked the discussion with Shakhmurat Ismailov, Head of the Scientific Center of Tuberculosis Problems of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Mr. Ismailov answered all questions and communicated with physicians of primary care on equal basis» - said Zhamal Tazhikenova, KAFP Branch Director in Astana city.

«Only a kind attitude and willingness to cooperate may change the health care system in Kazakhstan,» , she added.

Within the meeting a press conference was conducted. John Morgan, Deputy Regional Director USAID/CAR, Damilya Nugmanova, KAFP President, Head of Family Medicine Department of APGI, Nurkhan Nazirova, Head Expert of the Health Care Administration of Ministry of Health RK, Nurgul Khamzina, Head of the Science and Human Resource Department of Ministry of Health RK, David Kuter, family physician from USA, Wonca/ AAFP representative, Viktor Tilman and Aidin Nurdibaev, Kazakhstan family physicians, took part in the presidium of the press conference.

  

Press conference participants talked about the history of family medicine introduction in Kazakhstan that started in 1989 with the opening of the first mixed polyclinic for both children and adults. Since 1994, these efforts by the Ministry of Health were joined by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Almaty Post-Graduate Institute for Physicians and – for the past 10 years - the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians.

Interview with David Kuter, family physician, Wonca/ AAFP representative, USA.

Family medicine as a worldwide recognized approach to providing integrated, patient-oriented medical care to the entire family is strongly supported by the State Health Care Development Program.

Transition to family medicine has proven to be an effective mechanism to ensure the delivery of high quality health care services to the population. Integrated primary health care facilities, where teams of social workers and nurses work together under the direction of well-trained and motivated family doctors can also address critical health problems such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and chronic diseases.

The First Meeting of the Kazakhstan Association of Family Physicians caused great interest among local mass media such as TV channels, information agencies, radio stations, internet portals, medical media and other print media. In general 18 out of 27 mass media highlighted the event.

«I have been impressed by the work that you and KAFP have been doing for the past several years,» - wrote Daniel J. Ostergaard, AAFP Vice President in the greeting letter to KAFP.

«Especially I would like to note the encouragement you gave to the family medicine movement in Central Asia,» - he added..

 

All KAFP branches had the opportunity to present their local results and achievements in family medicine and primary health care development in an attractive exhibition.

Ms. Gulmira Ibraeva, the Dean of the APGI Therapeutical Department reading the presentation of the KAFP Branch in Karaganda oblast	Damilya Nugmanova, KAFP President presenting KAFP Branch in East-Kazakhstan oblast’s activity to Lisa Miglina, USAID Project ZdravPlus Manager and John Morgan, Deputy Regional Director USAID/CAR

Damilya Nugmanova, KAFP President and John Morgan, Deputy Regional Director USAID/CAR	Yelena Uzhegova, Associated Professor of the Family Medicine Department in Almaty PGI

Dr. Martin van den Boom, Associate Professional Officer, WHO Regional Office for Europe presented a WHO Strategy on Practical Approach to Lung Health (PAL). This strategy in order to improve TB detection and treatment targets PHC providers (FPs) and improves diagnosis and treatment of all most common lung infectious and non-infectious diseases (ARI, including pneumonia, asthma, COPD, etc.).
«It has been a big pleasure and honor to participate in the historical event of the first national meeting of family physicians in Kazakhstan. I am happy about the fact that there is good communication and collaboration between family medicine and the community of TB control,», - said Dr. Martin van den Boom.

Local Kazakhstan and CAR representatives of the pharmaceutical companies Nicomed, Boehringer Ingelheim, Astellas, and Medical Union Pharmaceuticals provided KAFP with sponsorship for the event and presented their products.

The last part of the event was dedicated to the Branch Directors’ meeting to discuss KAFP organizational issues.

Photogallery