Deputy’s Statement
At a parliamentary meeting, Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Temirlan Aitieff announced the Ministry of Health's ban on performing injections and drips in feldsher-obstetric points and family doctor groups.According to him, in response to a request, the ministry noted that such measures are due to risks for patients, including the possibility of anaphylactic shock and increased allergic reactions to medications.
Ministry of Health's Position
The Ministry of Health clarified that there is no complete ban on injections and infusion therapy in primary healthcare institutions. Procedures can be performed only by a doctor's prescription, documented with the appropriate signatures, stamps, or electronic signatures.The ministry emphasized that nurses are allowed to administer injections only based on correct prescriptions, and medications must be prescribed according to clinical protocols.
It was also noted that in some cases, patients come with prescriptions lacking a doctor's signature or stamp, especially from private clinics, which complicates the procedure for the nurse.
Risks of Complications
The Ministry of Health reminded that at the primary healthcare level, medications are usually prescribed in tablet form.Monitoring has shown that in a number of medical institutions, intravenous infusions were conducted without sufficient justification, sometimes at the patients' request, which contradicts the principles of evidence-based medicine and can lead to complications, including infections and allergic reactions.
In this regard, institutions are recommended to strictly follow clinical protocols and conduct infusions only when there are medical indications.
Serious Consequences
Deputy Head of the Emergency Medical Center Yegor Borisov reported that ambulances frequently respond to complications after injections and drips, including allergic reactions and even fatalities.Patients also turn to the Emergency Medical Center for drips and injections. Borisov emphasized that ambulance teams do not perform injections based on prescriptions that patients bring with them. "We refuse, even if patients come with planned prescriptions. We follow the orders of the Ministry of Health," he explained.
"Ambulance services are intended for emergency assistance and do not carry out planned prescriptions from other doctors. We cannot guarantee the origin of the medications and the conditions of their storage," the doctor added.
Myths about Drips
Head of the Independent Medical Union Bermet Baryktabasova noted that there is a dangerous misconception in society about the safety of injections and infusions performed outside of hospitals.According to her, any parenteral administration of a medication is a complex invasive procedure.
"Historical experience, including the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown that uncontrolled use of injection mixtures leads to increased mortality from side effects of therapy. The issue of 'drips ala' in Kyrgyzstan has become systemic: patients initiate procedures themselves and buy medications from unauthorized sources, and in case of complications, the medical professional is always blamed," Baryktabasova noted.
According to the expert, medical workers remain the most unprotected. "Even when following protocols, medical professionals face pressure from society and the judicial system. The responsibility of the doctor goes beyond the employment contract, turning the profession into a zone of increased legal risk," she added.
"This is a dangerous social phenomenon based on the myth that drips are the best and quickest treatment. Such a stereotype leads to polypharmacy and an increase in drug complications. The Ministry of Health should inform and educate citizens that modern medicine strives for less traumatic treatment methods. Drips are an invasive intervention, not a routine procedure. We need to move away from drips," the expert emphasized.
The Ministry of Health assured that explanatory work is being carried out among medical workers and the population regarding the rational use of medications and the prevention of unjustified prescriptions for intravenous procedures.
Advantages of Tablets
Head of the Drug Registration Department of the Department of Medicines Mirbek Nyshanbaev explained why preference should be given to tablets.He noted that one of the main advantages of using medications in tablet form is the low risk of complications. When a medication is taken orally, it is absorbed slowly, entering the bloodstream. Although allergic reactions are possible, their likelihood is lower than with injections.
This method is not associated with painful sensations and eliminates the risk of infections that arise from breaches of injection sterility.
"Any injection is an invasive procedure, and there is a risk of infectious complications," Nyshanbaev added.
Injections are used in emergencies when a rapid effect is needed, such as in cases of loss of consciousness, serious infections, or other conditions requiring urgent medical assistance.
Problems with Receiving Injections
Despite the deputy's call for order, patients report real difficulties in obtaining necessary injections in state institutions.79-year-old Tatyana from Bishkek shared that she had long used the services of the procedural room at CSM No. 4, where she received injections and drips.
"Everything was free, but I had to buy medications and medical supplies. This year I couldn't get help because the procedural room was closed and the nurse was reduced," she shared.
Tatyana added that now she has to go to private clinics, where she pays for injections and drips out of her pension, creating additional financial difficulties.
She also expressed concerns that people who cannot afford to go to private clinics will try to administer injections themselves or turn to acquaintances, which could lead to serious consequences.
Management at CSM noted that medications are administered in the day hospital based on strict indications. However, it turned out that the branch Tatyana visited is temporarily closed.
Another source admitted that a friend administers drips for him, as it is inconvenient to go to CSM due to queues and the risk of infection.
This situation with injections and drips highlights a multi-layered problem. Doctors urge a rejection of unjustified procedures, but patients face a lack of places to receive prescribed injections. It is important to inform people about the potential risks of parenteral treatment at home.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: totispharma.com.
