Health workers around the world are considered the most vulnerable group, despite protective suits and masks. However, in Kyrgyzstan, the level of protection of doctors against COVID-19 is so low that the number of cases among medical staff is extremely high. According to the Republican headquarters to combat the spread of COVID-19 as of July 9, 1370 health workers got infected. Almost a third of this number – 540 infections occurred in the first decade of July.
Daily there are reports of deaths of doctors from coronavirus infection or bilateral pneumonia, which in the republic, despite abnormal data on the number of deaths from this disease in the summer, is still not recognized as a consequence of COVID-19.
Also, recently it became known that community-acquired pneumonia was detected in the Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Sabyrzhan Abdikarimov. And one of his deputies, Nurbolot Usenbaev, has a coronavirus infection.
The public of the Kyrgyz Republic associates such a high number of doctors infected by COVID-19 with a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in medical institutions.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus infection pandemic in the Kyrgyz Republic, doctors have repeatedly complained on social networks about the lack of PPE to work in epidemic conditions. The State Committee for National Security searched for these people and made them apologize publicly for misinformation.
So, in April, a doctor Bektur Apyshev, who posted on Twitter about health problems and the lack of PPE for physicians in contact with patients, was forced to film a video-apologize. The State Committee for National Security spread the video on social networks.
In the same month, a video went viral where several employees of the Ala-Buka district hospital who was tested positive voiced their complaints against the leadership of the medical institution. Later, on the condition of anonymity, they told the media that “they did not receive any personal protective equipment, only disposable respirators, which can be worn for a long time. ”
Recently, a video appeared again on social networks of the Kyrgyz Internet segment, where a hospital doctor in the village of Kurshab, Uzgen district, complained about the lack of personal protective equipment in the medical facility. The doctor said that in the hospital, there are no respirators, masks, or even drugs to combat coronavirus and community-acquired pneumonia.
Meanwhile, a major corruption scandal is brewing in the republic, since the government suspects Mukhammedkaly Abylgaziev of purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and lung ventilation equipment at inflated prices. If this is proved, then the scale of the corruption incident in the Kyrgyz Republic will exceed the scandal surrounding the modernization of the thermal power station, where major officials were condemned, including two former prime ministers – Zhantoro Satybaldiev and Sapar Isakov.
On July 1, the journalists of PolitKlinika published an investigation on public procurement. According to their data, from January to May 2020, it was planned to conduct tenders for $ 2.1 million (163.9 million soms) in the selected categories for this period. Of the more than two thousand organized tenders, only 1,075 were implemented. The total amount of completed tenders was $ 1.5 million (KGS 116.6 million).
Journalists found out that 443 participants took part in public procurements. Among the participants were companies not related to healthcare, for example, construction ones. However, these companies won tenders for the supply of masks and disinfectants.
In total tenders were organized by 234 government agencies. Most of the purchases were made for the National Hospital under the Ministry of Health. Journalists detected a tender for the purchase of protective suits for the amount of $ 77.1 (six thousand soms). $ 38 thousand 560 (three million soms) were allocated for the purchase of 500 sets of PPE. At the same time, according to journalists, the market price for reusable biohazard suits in Bishkek amounted to about $ 25.8 (two thousand soms).
Besides, investigators found that disposable masks were bought at $ 5.14 (400 soms) apiece. At the same time, these masks can be bought for up to $ 1.92 (150 soms).
According to the investigation: “When analyzing the data of the Department of Public Procurement website, we found out that sometimes the amount of public procurement exceeded the market value of goods by 10 times.”
In their investigation, journalists found a connection between one of the companies that won tenders for the purchase of PPE and lung ventilation equipment with the Birimdik party, in which the brother of the president of Kyrgyzstan Asylbek Jeenbekov has a membership.
Shortly after the publication of the public procurement investigation, it became known that the Finance Police, on behalf of the president, had verified conducting of tenders by the government in February 2020 for the purchase of personal protective equipment and medical masks. As a result of the audit, the fact was registered in the Unified Registry of Crimes and Misdemeanors and were launched pre-trial proceedings.
On July 10, the State Service for Combating Economic Crimes (financial police) summoned former Deputy Prime Minister Altynay Omurbekova for questioning. It was noted that the interrogation is carried out as part of the criminal case under investigation on the fact of corruption and lobbying of the interests of individual pharmaceutical companies.
Earlier, on July 6, former Minister Cosmosbek Cholponbaev was called in for questioning in the framework of pre-trial proceedings against officials of the Ministry of Health on corruption and lobbying for the interests of individual pharmaceutical companies.
He was also summoned for interrogation on July 9, but was unable to come due to poor health.
After the interrogation, Altynay Omurbekova wrote on her Facebook page that investigators asked her questions about the humanitarian aid received.
Meanwhile, several media outlets, citing their sources in law enforcement, said that Cosmosbek Cholponbaev was suspected of selling medical masks abroad. His son, Erkin Cholponbaev, on his Facebook page, confirmed information that his father was summoned for interrogation, but noted that blaming only one person for everything is wrong.
Recall that Altynay Omurbekova and Kosmosbek Cholponbaev were relieved of their posts on April 1. The Security Council Secretariat then noted that former officials had made several mistakes in organizing the fight against COVID-19, and criticized their activities since the establishment of the headquarters. It was also said that the Republican Operational Headquarters did not take timely measures to prevent the penetration of coronavirus and prevent its spread in the Kyrgyz Republic.
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