On June 9, 2022, a scientific and practical conference with international participation "Occupational medicine of the XXI century: issues of health protection of the working population" was held by the Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health of the "Medical University of Karaganda" NCJSC together with the Republican Public Association "Association of Occupational Pathologists". During the conference, the issues of modern views on occupational medicine in the Republic of Kazakhstan were raised and topical issues of health protection of the working population were discussed.

The conference was attended by representatives of government agencies, including the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee, employees of medical universities of the country, scientific and medical organizations, colleagues from Italy, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, representatives of trade unions, employers. The participants agreed that intersectoral and interdepartmental cooperation is necessary to address issues of health protection of the working population.

Opening the conference, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs V.P. Riklefs noted that the problem of globalization of the modern world has put issues of occupational safety and public health on the agenda as never before, and noted the timeliness of the forum.

In his welcoming speech, the Chairman of the SEC Committee N.O. Sadvakasov noted that the most important indicator of the health of society is the state of health of its employees, and in order to implement the concept of "New Kazakhstan", the country's healthcare is tasked with developing and implementing measures that contribute to the speedy entry of healthcare to a qualitatively new level.

Chairman of the Trade Union Center of the Karaganda region B.K. Zhumabekov noted that the Federation of Trade Unions at all levels of social partnership raises issues of providing workers with safe, healthy workplaces and fair compensation for harm in case of loss of professional ability to work.

The conference was attended by P.V. Serebryakov, MD, Professor, Head of the Department of Occupational and Non-Communicable Diseases of Internal Organs from exposure to Industrial Aerosols, FGBNU "Research Institute of Occupational Medicine", Moscow, Russia; Head of the Department of Occupational Pathology, Tashkent Medical Academy, MD, Professor G.S. Agzamova.

The importance of such a forum, discussion and decision-making on the health of workers was noted by the deputy head of the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Karaganda region B.T. Alpysbayev.

Honored Professor, founder of occupational pathology in Kazakhstan Uken Amanbekov focused on the main milestones in the development of occupational pathology and occupational medicine in Kazakhstan, almost 70 years of history, and expressed his wish for the progressive development of the occupational medicine service in connection with the implementation of the concept "New Kazakhstan".

Director of the Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health B.K. Omarkulov noted the necessity and timeliness of the forum, since the health issues of the working population require a systematic scientific approach, continuity between the labor inspectorate, sanitary and epidemiological service and medical organizations for the service of the working population.

The reports of the plenary session were devoted to topical issues of occupational pathology.

Chief freelance occupational pathologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chief occupational pathologist of the Institute of Public Health and Occupational Health of  "MUK" NCJSC, MD, Professor A.U. Amanbekova devoted a report to the state of occupational pathology and the main directions of preserving the health of the working population in Kazakhstan.

D.S. Abzalieva, MD, Professor, medical expert of JSC NC KazMunayGas, presented an integrated approach in medical care of employees engaged in harmful working conditions and prospects for digitalization of integrated data.

The chairman of the Republican Conflict Occupational Pathology Commission, MD, Professor of the Department of Internal Diseases of "MUK" NCJSC L.K. Ibraeva showed the main causes of conflict situations in the establishment of occupational diseases.

The chief expert of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan M. Imash made a report "Health protection of workers: current problems, solutions".

The conference "Occupational Medicine of the XXI century: issues of health protection of the working population" was held in 4 sections.

The first section considered the problems of studying chrysotile asbestos and asbestos-related diseases in Kazakhstan. Moderators: Professors G.S. Agzamova, Sh.S. Koigeldinova, Zh.Zh. Zharylkasyn. Scientists from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Kazakhstan took part in the discussion of this issue. Scientists of the Karaganda Medical University presented the results of 17 years of scientific fundamental and practical research on the effect of chrysotile on the human body. Head of the Department of Occupational Pathology, Tashkent Medical Academy, MD, Professor G.S. Agzamova made a conclusion about the need for controlled use of asbestos and preventive measures in production.

At the section "Problems of hygienic regulation and control of factors of the production environment and labor process", moderated by the leading hygienists of the country, representatives of Aktobe Medical University – Professor A.A. Mamyrbayev, Astana Medical University – Professors A.A. Ismailov, A.A. Musin, Karaganda Medical University – MD E.J. Otarov, a wide range of topics was discussed a range of issues, including problems of the mining, metallurgical and oil and gas industries. Scientists from various countries took part in the work of the section both offline and online: Azerbaijan, Russia, Serbia, Italy.

Interest was aroused by the report of the expert of the World Health Organization Elizabeth Paunovic (Belgrade, Serbia) "The organization of occupational health services in the 21st century - positive examples and challenges". The section also touched upon the issues of occupational risks for medical workers when working with Covid-19 patients, which were shared by Professor Claudio Colosio (WHO expert, Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan). He noted that in many countries Covid-19 is recognized as an occupational disease or as an accident at work.

The topic of health of medical workers was devoted to the report of a guest from the Altai State Medical University A.S. Nagornyak "The impact of physical factors on medical workers in modern healthcare".

At the section "Theoretical and practical aspects of occupational medicine", where the moderators were professors: S.K. Karabalin, Sh.B. Battakova, L.K. Ibraeva, reports of MD, Professor, Head of the Department of Radiology and Radiology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, I.E. Tyurin on the topic "Visualization of fibrosing ISL" and Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Internal Diseases of "MUK" NCJSC L.K. Ibraeva on the topic "New possibilities of management and antifibrotic therapy of patients with occupational lung diseases". The resolution of the conference recommended the inclusion of an item on the revision of the clinical protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of pneumoconiosis with the inclusion of antifibrotic treatment.

The section "Innovative approaches to the educational process in the field of public health and occupational medicine (occupational pathology)", moderated by Professors G.Zh. Sarsenbayeva, S.R. Zhakenova, D.B. Kulov, was held in the form of a briefing and a wide discussion of undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral studies. Professors, heads of departments of medical universities in Karaganda, Aktobe, Semey, Astana (Nursultan), Shymkent gave clear and well-developed proposals for the development of these disciplines in the country.

A round table was devoted to the programs of preserving the health of workers (moderators: Professors Z.K. Sultanbekov, M.B. Otarbayeva, D.S. Abzalieva). The problems of medical care of the working contingent in the Republic of Kazakhstan were discussed, health protection programs in the mining, coal, and metallurgical industries were presented, and a broad discussion was held on assisting employees of the oil and gas sector of the country.

As part of the conference, an organizational meeting of the Republican Public Association "Association of Occupational Pathologists" was held under the leadership of Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor A.U. Amanbekova. The Secretary of the MD, Professor M.B. Otarbayeva presented the work program of the Association.