Ambulance crews will start recording patients on video in Astana and Almaty

Tengrinews.kz – Paramedics in Astana and Almaty have started using smart video badges, according to the Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan.

According to the ministry, the video badges will help provide legal protection for medical workers in cases of assault or conflict.

“The system is currently operating in pilot mode in emergency service organizations in just two cities. The video badges are equipped with an SOS button, geolocation functionality, and automatic upload of recordings at the end of a shift. All devices are connected to a secure centralized management system,” the ministry stated.

As explained in a video released by the Ministry of Healthcare, the badges record every stage of an emergency call – from dispatch to return. Every action taken by the paramedic will be recorded.

It is noted that the SOS signal and video feed are automatically transmitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs system.

If the pilot in the two cities is successful, the system is planned to be implemented in other regions as well.

“According to data from local executive bodies, between 2019 and 2023, a total of 158 medical workers in Kazakhstan were harmed while performing their duties. Of those, 46 incidents occurred in 2022, 80 in 2023, and 12 cases of assaults were recorded in 2024,” the Ministry added.

Earlier, the Ministry of Healthcare had already shared plans to improve the safety of emergency medical staff. One of the proposed measures was equipping healthcare workers with video badges – similar to those used by patrol officers.