Kazakhstan doctors in HIV protest

By Natalia Antelava
BBC News, Almaty

Sayat is among the toddlers infected with HIV since last September

Nearly 50 doctors in Kazakhstan have resigned in protest at what they call unprecedented pressure on them over HIV infection in the region's hospitals.

More than 120 toddlers, known as the Shymkent babies, tested positive for HIV and 10 died after the virus was discovered in hospitals last September.

Last month 21 medical workers were found guilty of corruption and negligence leading to the outbreak.

Kazakhstan has experienced a sharp rise in HIV infections in recent years.

Most of the toddlers were infected through blood transfusions which their parents had to pay for.

During the four-month trial it emerged that in most cases the procedure was not even necessary.

Protest spreads

Twenty-one health workers have already been found guilty of causing the outbreak but the number of victims is rising all the time. The prosecution has begun a criminal investigation into 13 other doctors.

In June, 21 doctors were found guilty over the HIV outbreak

Medical staff in the region say this has put a great deal of pressure on them.

Forty-nine doctors have already submitted their letters of resignation. In a statement, the Union of Medical Professionals said more would resign unless the government reconsidered its approach to the outbreak.

They said individual doctors should not be held responsible for the failure of the region's battered and under-funded healthcare system.

The parents of the victims are also unhappy but for different reasons. The problem, they say, is that although they were found guilty, some of the medical workers were not even given jail sentences.

Many of those who went to prison will be able to practise medicine again when they have served their prison sentences, which range from two to eight years.

As new cases continue to emerge, the parents say they want a stricter punishment for those who they say ruined the lives of their children.