WEEKLY REVIEW: Kazakhstan pays utmost attention to oncology development
On Monday, September 22, Vice Minister of National Economy Timur Zhaksylykov presented new draft amendments to the Majilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, that are set to limit state's participation in business activities. The bill envisages that business companies will be set up only in certain circumstances established by the law, by the decrees of the President or Government. The amendments have been developed due to the fact that state companies hinder the development of private business by using their privileges. On Tuesday, September 23, executive secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Arman Yevniyev told a press conference at the KazMedia Center that Kazakhstan will earmark 1.8 billion tenge to support fish breeding in 2016. He also touched upon the problems with the 2014 harvesting campaign caused by severe weather. According to him, 60% of crops have been taken in despite bad weather conditions. "Kazakhstan plans to harvest 17 million tons of crops this year," he added. On Wednesday, September 24, first Vice Minister of Healthcare and Social Development Salidat Kairbekova participated in the international oncological symposium held in Astana. At the forum, Ms Kairbekova delivered a keynote speech noting that Kazakhstan strives to join the number of countries with advanced technologies in cancer detection and treatment. To this end, memorandums of cooperation with the European School of Oncology, the Gustave Roussy Institute of Oncology (France), School of Medicine of the University of Pittsburgh, medical centers in South Korea and Japan were signed. Besides, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) finances a number of oncological projects in Kazakhstan. Five interregional radiation oncology centers in Almaty, Semei, Karaganda, Aktobe and Astana are to be provided with modern equipment to introduce advanced technologies of cancer detection and treatment. New oncological centers are to be built and the old ones are to be reconstructed across the country as well. On Thursday, September 25, Minister of National Economy Yerbolat Dossayev attended the sitting of the Kazakh Senate. He assured Kazakhstani senators that currently transfer of taxes to the local level is off the table. On Friday, September 26, Minister of Healthcare and Social Development Tamara Duissenova attended a scientific practical conference in the Kazakh capital. At the conference, she announced that labor demand is expected to exceed the growth of economically active population in 2014-2018. That means there will be enough work places for the population and unemployment rate is set to decrease in the nearest future.