From April 21 - 23, 2021, the IX Congress of Pediatricians of Kazakhstan was held with the participation of leading scientists and experts in the field of pediatrics and children’s surgery from far and near abroad. More than 9000 participants, including specialists from America, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries.

At the opening of the congress, the Minister of Health Tsoi A.V. made a welcoming speech, who emphasized that the protection of the health of mothers and children is one of the priority tasks of the state and the health care system of Kazakhstan. Therefore, for early detection, timely correction and treatment in the Republic of Kazakhstan, national screening programs are being improved, new methods of diagnosing hereditary metabolic diseases, sensory disorders are being introduced, and full government support is being supported for the treatment of cancer patients. Minister drew attention to the contribution of Kazakhstan pediatricians, thanks to whom it was possible to achieve a decrease in infant mortality by 1.4 times, and infant mortality by 1.2 times over the past 5 years.

Also, the rector of KazNMU named after S. Asfendiyarov, Professor T.S. Nurgozhin, Executive Vice President, Head of the Department of Global Pediatrics, Director of St. Jude Global Carlos Rodriguez Galindo from the USA and General Director of the National Specialized Hospital OKHMATDET V. Zhovnir from Ukraine, also made a welcoming speech.

Chairman of the Board of Scientific Center of Pediatrics and Children’s Surgery, chief freelance pediatrician of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan R.Z Boranbaeva shared the current state of the pediatric service in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As it was noted in her report, more than 390,000 living children are born annually in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the total number of the child population in the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 6,289.8 thousand children. In 2020, within the framework of the State Program for the Development of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020-2025. The following indicators were achieved: "Child mortality" - 8.9 per 1000 live births at a rate of 10.6 %; "Infant mortality" - 7.8 per 1000 live births at a rate of 10.1 %. Perinatal conditions and congenital malformations remain the main causes of infant mortality. To further reduce these indicators, various perinatal technologies are being introduced, neonatal surgery and pediatric cardiac surgery are being developed. However, in order to reduce mortality from controlled causes, it is necessary to introduce and widely use a universal-progressive model of patronage visiting pregnant women and children under 5 years old at home. Also, Boranbaeva R.Z. noted the main achievements in the field of pediatric oncology and hematology, in the diagnosis and treatment of orphan diseases, joint work with various non-governmental organizations. Especially noted, the issues of solving the personnel shortage in all pediatric specialties by training specialists at residency bases, at advanced training cycles and master classes.

At the authoritative site of the congress, topical issues of modern medical and diagnostic technologies in the scientific and clinical practice of pediatrics and children’s surgery were discussed. So, within the framework of the congress, plenary sessions were held on topical issues of pediatrics and neonatology, pediatric oncology and hematology, sections on orphan diseases in children, immunology and allergology, diagnostics and treatment of pediatric infections and pediatric surgical services. In just 3 days of the congress, more than 100 reports were made on various problems of pediatrics and pediatric surgery. The topics of the reports reflected a wide range of issues focused on the problems of organizing the provision of medical care to children with various diseases, the issues of improving medical services for children and the development of modern technologies in pediatrics and children’s surgery.

The third day of the congress was dedicated to the Forum of young scientists for doctoral students, undergraduates and residents "Young researcher: challenges and prospects for the development of modern pediatrics and children’s surgery." This Forum is traditionally held at the beginning of the year for the fourth consecutive year. Its purpose is to increase the scientific potential of young scientists, attract young specialists to scientific activities, increase the role of young scientists in the implementation of the state health development program. It is gratifying to note that every year the number of interested participants is growing, as well as the quality of research presented by them at this Forum is improving. Traditionally, the competition was held for "Best oral presentation", "Best poster presentation", and "Best thesis". The nominees for this year were A. Goncharova, D. Bekbatyrova, and a team of authors: V. Pulatova, N. Kenes, K. Zholdasbekova.

Thus, the intended goals of the congress are to further develop and improve the provision of medical care to children in the Republic of Kazakhstan, using high-tech methods of diagnosis and treatment, as well as to exchange experience and information with scientists from abroad, to strengthen cooperation of professional contacts to achieve high efficiency in treatment and rehabilitation in complex pathologies in children have been achieved.

As a result of the discussion by the participants of the congress of the main problems of childhood diseases at the current moment and in the near future, the congress developed a resolution in which it outlined the main problems and prospects for the development of pediatrics.