Biological safety bill reflects lessons Kazakhstan has learned from global pandemic – minister

NUR-SULTAN. KAZINFORM – We must be prepared for all types of epidemiological risks, Health Minister Azhar Giniyat said Thursday during the Senate plenary session, Kazinform correspondent reports.

While answering MPs’ questions on Kazakhstan’s preparedness for epidemiological threats and the new draft law on biosafety, Minister Giniyat said that above all, we should be prepared for all types of risks. According to her, you always have to be able to foresee potential risks, isolate them and manage them.

The Minister believes that in the event of a threat to biological security, all government bodies should consider the necessary measures. She also assured that a scenario for each infectious disease is being developed or is in place in the country.

The ministry, in its words, ensures that local government agencies are prepared to deal with potential biosecurity threats, that enough pharmaceuticals are reserved and that enough qualified personnel are available.

Minister Giniyat also pointed out that the bill [on biological safety] considers all measures, including laboratory research, the acquisition of advanced equipment, the construction of laboratories, as well as the carrying out of research.

She added that the draft biosafety law reflects all the lessons Kazakhstan has learned from the global pandemic.

Today, the Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, passed the Biological Safety Bill.