Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASTANA1796
2007-07-02 04:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: VERDICT IN HIV OUTBREAK TRIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO0634 RR RUEHDBU DE RUEHTA #1796 1830433 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 020433Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9949 INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7178 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 8040 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2163 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 7943
UNCLAS ASTANA 001796
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/PCI HUDAK AND SCA/CEN O'MARA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KHIV SOCI KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: VERDICT IN HIV OUTBREAK TRIAL
REF: 06 ASTANA 205
UNCLAS ASTANA 001796
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/PCI HUDAK AND SCA/CEN O'MARA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KHIV SOCI KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: VERDICT IN HIV OUTBREAK TRIAL
REF: 06 ASTANA 205
1. (SBU) Summary: A court in South Kazakhstan sentenced
seventeen medical workers to prison terms of up to five years
for their roles in infecting over 100 children with HIV. Four
senior health officials, including the former head of the
South Kazakhstan's Region health department Nursulu
Tasmagambetova, received suspended sentences. The families
of the infected children expressed outrage at the verdict,
calling the sentences too lenient. Largely in response to
the HIV outbreak in Shymkent, Kazakhstan has taken steps to
improve its blood transfusion practices. While the reform is
sorely needed, the trial in Shymkent demonstrated that simple
corruption is often the cause of Kazakhstani medical
malpractice. End summary.
An Unpopular Verdict
--------------
2. (U) On June 27, a South Kazakhstan court convicted 21
health care workers of negligence for their roles in an HIV
outbreak in Shymkent. At least 118 children in the region
have been infected as a result of transfusions of
contaminated blood or through the use of unsterilized medical
equipment (Reftel). Ten of the infected children have died.
Seventeen medical workers were sentenced to jail terms
ranging from nine months to five years. Four senior health
officials, including former regional health department head
Nursulu Tasmagambetova, received suspended sentences.
3. (SBU) Families of the infected children attacked the
verdict, which marked the end of a trial that started in
January. The families were particularly critical of the
suspended sentences for senior officials. One parent told
the local media that "those who got suspended sentences are
the most senior ones and thus most responsible for all this."
Forty medical workers in Shymkent also gathered in protest
after the verdict. According to one speaker, "if
Tasmagambetova has been given a suspended sentence, then
others should have been released. She was the manager and the
rest subordinates." (Comment: Former regional health
department chief Nursulu Tasmagambetova is the sister of
influential Almaty mayor Imangali Tasmagambetov. Before the
trial, several sources predicted to Poloff that
Tasmagambetova would receive a light sentence because of her
connections. While her sentence may be a fair result in a
case centered on low level corruption, many Kazakhstanis will
view the verdict as further evidence of a two tiered system
of justice.)
Outbreak Spurs Reform, but Problems Deep-Rooted
-------------- --
4. (U) The HIV outbreak in Shymkent spurred Kazakhstan to
reassess and improve its blood safety and transfusion
procedures. Investigations conducted across the country
revealed that all 28 of the country's blood centers violated
legal standards. According to the director of the Republican
Blood Center, 60 to 85% of the equipment at the centers is
defunct. Kazakhstan has since announced plans to launch a
new safe blood transfusion program at a cost of 32 billion
tenge (approximately $2.5 million). The program calls for
the resupply and reequipping of existing blood centers and
the construction of several new centers, and a blood
processing plant in Almaty.
5. (U) While systematic reform is necessary, an underlying
cause of the Shymkent outbreak was corruption. According to
prosecutors, local doctors, who earn an average of $175 a
month, charged $30 for blood transfusions, sharing the
profits between doctors and local blood banks. Unnecessary
blood transfusions have thus become a source of income for
corrupt doctors. One eight month old child in Shymkent
received 24 blood transfusions, prescribed only to boost the
child's immunity.
6. (SBU) Comment: The HIV outbreak in Shymkent serves as a
reminder that beyond the booming oil profits and glitz and
glamour of Astana and Almaty, many Kazakhstanis still lack
access to basic necessities like decent health care. The GOK
appears to understand the problem, and has announced plans to
spend at least 4% of its GDP on public health in 2008-2010.
End comment
MILAS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/PCI HUDAK AND SCA/CEN O'MARA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KHIV SOCI KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: VERDICT IN HIV OUTBREAK TRIAL
REF: 06 ASTANA 205
1. (SBU) Summary: A court in South Kazakhstan sentenced
seventeen medical workers to prison terms of up to five years
for their roles in infecting over 100 children with HIV. Four
senior health officials, including the former head of the
South Kazakhstan's Region health department Nursulu
Tasmagambetova, received suspended sentences. The families
of the infected children expressed outrage at the verdict,
calling the sentences too lenient. Largely in response to
the HIV outbreak in Shymkent, Kazakhstan has taken steps to
improve its blood transfusion practices. While the reform is
sorely needed, the trial in Shymkent demonstrated that simple
corruption is often the cause of Kazakhstani medical
malpractice. End summary.
An Unpopular Verdict
--------------
2. (U) On June 27, a South Kazakhstan court convicted 21
health care workers of negligence for their roles in an HIV
outbreak in Shymkent. At least 118 children in the region
have been infected as a result of transfusions of
contaminated blood or through the use of unsterilized medical
equipment (Reftel). Ten of the infected children have died.
Seventeen medical workers were sentenced to jail terms
ranging from nine months to five years. Four senior health
officials, including former regional health department head
Nursulu Tasmagambetova, received suspended sentences.
3. (SBU) Families of the infected children attacked the
verdict, which marked the end of a trial that started in
January. The families were particularly critical of the
suspended sentences for senior officials. One parent told
the local media that "those who got suspended sentences are
the most senior ones and thus most responsible for all this."
Forty medical workers in Shymkent also gathered in protest
after the verdict. According to one speaker, "if
Tasmagambetova has been given a suspended sentence, then
others should have been released. She was the manager and the
rest subordinates." (Comment: Former regional health
department chief Nursulu Tasmagambetova is the sister of
influential Almaty mayor Imangali Tasmagambetov. Before the
trial, several sources predicted to Poloff that
Tasmagambetova would receive a light sentence because of her
connections. While her sentence may be a fair result in a
case centered on low level corruption, many Kazakhstanis will
view the verdict as further evidence of a two tiered system
of justice.)
Outbreak Spurs Reform, but Problems Deep-Rooted
-------------- --
4. (U) The HIV outbreak in Shymkent spurred Kazakhstan to
reassess and improve its blood safety and transfusion
procedures. Investigations conducted across the country
revealed that all 28 of the country's blood centers violated
legal standards. According to the director of the Republican
Blood Center, 60 to 85% of the equipment at the centers is
defunct. Kazakhstan has since announced plans to launch a
new safe blood transfusion program at a cost of 32 billion
tenge (approximately $2.5 million). The program calls for
the resupply and reequipping of existing blood centers and
the construction of several new centers, and a blood
processing plant in Almaty.
5. (U) While systematic reform is necessary, an underlying
cause of the Shymkent outbreak was corruption. According to
prosecutors, local doctors, who earn an average of $175 a
month, charged $30 for blood transfusions, sharing the
profits between doctors and local blood banks. Unnecessary
blood transfusions have thus become a source of income for
corrupt doctors. One eight month old child in Shymkent
received 24 blood transfusions, prescribed only to boost the
child's immunity.
6. (SBU) Comment: The HIV outbreak in Shymkent serves as a
reminder that beyond the booming oil profits and glitz and
glamour of Astana and Almaty, many Kazakhstanis still lack
access to basic necessities like decent health care. The GOK
appears to understand the problem, and has announced plans to
spend at least 4% of its GDP on public health in 2008-2010.
End comment
MILAS