The Health Status of the Population in the Semey Region and Scientifically Proven Measures to Improve It

We analyzed the state of health of the general population in the eastern Kazakhstan area, which showed a continuing high level of radiation-related diseases such as cancers. The affected region has been also characterized by high figures for mental disorder diseases and drug addiction. In comparison to the rest of Kazakhstan, our region has had the highest rates for cancer pathology and mortality from cancer, even exceeding the rate for the rest of the country in thyroid and breast cancer by 1.5 fold. In 2007, in the Semey region there were 1347 registered new cases of malignant neoplasia. From that number, 827 (61.4%) cases were in the city of Semey and 520 (38.6%) new cases were among rural inhabitants. By comparison, in 2006, the total number of known malignant neoplasms was 1291. The need for improvement of the state of health of the population in the Semey region demands a working out of further scientifically proven measures. Some of these measures are, to consistently decrease the level of socially significant diseases, to decrease the number of malignant neoplasms, and to facilitate systemic transition to international standards, new technologies, modern methods of treatment, and modern health services.