Almaty Bolsters COVID-19 Response with 7,000 Beds and New Hospitals
Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, has significantly bolstered its healthcare infrastructure to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has expanded its bed capacity and medical resources, demonstrating a robust response to the crisis.
Initially, Almaty had just 2 infectious disease hospitals with 400 beds. However, the city administration and local health authorities swiftly reacted to the growing need. They converted two modular clinics, sports facilities, hotels, and other hospitals into makeshift hospitals, increasing the bed count to 7,011 across 23 facilities.
The seventh city hospital, one of the first to be overwhelmed, was transformed into a COVID-19 treatment centre. All its departments were repurposed to care for infected patients, with around 1,500 successfully treated so far. To support this expansion, over 11,000 units of new medical equipment were purchased, and around 400 medical workers were recruited to bolster the staff.
To manage the varied needs of patients, all infectious disease hospitals were divided into 3 tiers based on patient severity. This tiered system ensures that resources are allocated effectively and that patients receive appropriate care.
Almaty's comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a remarkable increase in bed capacity and medical resources. With 7,011 beds now available across 23 infectious disease hospitals, the city is better equipped to handle future healthcare challenges. The successful treatment of around 1,500 patients at the seventh hospital alone is a testament to the effectiveness of these measures.
