Нарушения и высокая смертность: Уволены директора Центра кардиологии и НИИ хирургии сердца

In Kyrgyzstan, following an inspection and due to high mortality rates, Talantbek Sooronbaev, Director of the National Center for Cardiology and Therapy, and Samidin Shabyraliev, Director of the Research Institute of Heart Surgery and Organ Transplantation, have been dismissed. The Ministry of Health reported the violations identified. National Center for Cardiology and Therapy Talantbek Sooronbaev, who held the position since February 2022, was the Director of the Center. At a meeting on January 12, Minister Kanybek Dosmambetov drew attention to corruption in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment, as well as the personal responsibility of Director Talantbek Sooronbaev, questioning his frequent trips abroad (45 trips over two years—almost twice a month) and the origin of property worth approximately $2 million. Deputy Minister Bakytbek Kadyraliev visited the institution for an inspection. He inspected the center's intensive care unit and clarified a number of issues, including why an echocardiogram machine wasn't available near the patient and when it was last used. The center's staff showed him a machine that was in another room and locked. This angered the deputy minister: he demanded that the device be turned on and checked its functionality. The machine was turned on. "It's designed so smartly that it can be rolled out, including to the intensive care unit," Kadyraliev said, turning to Sooronbaev: "The machine should be here from today. It shouldn't be locked." Bakytbek Kadyraliev also checked the workload of the angiography equipment, which should be operational around the clock but is not actually being used. "There are only two patients this morning, but the workload should be for a million people. We're doing a very good job, it's noticeable," he noted. The deputy minister identified delays in coronary angiograms: a patient has been hospitalized for nine days. "A patient with a complicated medical history—ischemic heart disease—has been hospitalized for nine days," he noted, addressing the doctors and management of the center. "Only on the ninth day do we begin to think, and by that time he could have a heart attack," the deputy minister emphasized, adding that two angiography machines are idle, while the patient is not receiving timely care and is at risk of a heart attack. Research Institute of Cardiac Surgery and Organ Transplantation The director of the research institute is Samidin Shabyraliev. He was appointed in April 2023, but was dismissed in September of that year at the request of then-Minister Alymkadyr Beishenaliev. Shabyraliev was reappointed in February 2024. During this time, a major fire occurred at the institute, resulting in the deaths of two infants. Following the incident, the institution temporarily operated out of the building of the diagnostic center. Then President Sadyr Japarov visited the institute and ordered an investigation into the causes of child deaths after surgeries. One of the identified problems was a lack of modern equipment: the center uses a single, outdated ultrasound machine located in the emergency room. Deputy Minister Kadyraliev inspected the research institute and identified several medical devices that were sitting idle. He was told the equipment was not working. However, Kadyraliev noted that infusion pumps were in place, as were devices designed for treating premature babies. He inquired about the number of devices for premature babies and how many surgeries had been performed. He was told five had been performed. "But this is necessary. Why aren't you using the equipment for its intended purpose?" the deputy minister asked. He was told there was a separate bed in the diagnostic center where patients were currently being treated. Kadyraliev ordered the cleaning and filtration of all available equipment and instruments, which were gathering dust. "You're not using this, yet you're asking for money. Why isn't all this being used? These are necessary items, just gathering dust. All this costs millions—that's negligence," he said. Kadyraliev recalled that on May 8, President Sadyr Japarov inspected the institute's operations and ordered the purchase of echocardiography machines. He asked to see the new equipment, but was told that the device presented was new. In response, the deputy minister noted that the order was specifically for the purchase of the machine. According to Kadyraliev, the institute was allocated 180 million soms, but 16 million were returned as unspent. "You could have purchased the machine with that 16 million? You could have?" he asked. He was informed that a tender had been held, but the equipment hadn't been purchased since May due to a lack of funds. Kadyraliev replied that the machine could have been purchased since May with unspent funds. Results Following the inspection, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Health, where full information was presented. The directors of two institutions attende...