Leneshmidt Translation Services lends its support to various organizations that benefit our community when it involves the translation of Kazakh, Russian and English languages. One such organization worthy of this support is the Nur-Avicenum Hospital and Clinic in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan.

Since its creation in 1991, Nur-Avicenum has dedicated its energy to improving the health of all of its patients from not only the Almaty Oblast but all of Kazakhstan.

The year 2013 marks the 22 year anniversary of the hospital. The Nur-Avicenum serves over 26,000 patients each year, many at no cost.

With a staff of 90, including 26 doctors and 35 nurses, Nur-Avicenum provides compassionate medical care in the fields of cardiology, gynecology, neurology, children's medical care and much more. No patient has ever been refused help because of the lack of funds.

The Nur-Avicenum and its programs are non-profit and non-governmental and have been deemed worthy of receiving the generous help of the government of Kazakhstan and the early support of its efforts from President Nursaltan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, the government of Japan, the United States government, the governments of Switzerland, Denmark and Germany as well as NGOs and corporations world-wide. ^{[1] [2]}

The building that was to become Nur-Avicenum before renovation

Nur-Avicenum traces its humble beginnings to the founding of the Nur-Avicenum Consultive-Diagnostic Center by cardiologist Dr. Vladimir Kraisman in January, 1991. Dr. Kraisman, at the time, was chief medical doctor of internal medicine for the Soviet Government Hospital of the Almaty Oblast as well as the chief cardiologist for Taldkorgan city at the central Soviet hospital in Taldykorgan.

As the entire Soviet system began to collapse, Dr. Kraisman had already developed a plan and vision for private medical care in Kazakhstan, something unheard of in the Soviet system.

It was during this time that Dr. Kraisman began his research and study into how the entire medical system of Kazakhstan should be reformed. Contributions from sponsors enabled him to visit medical facilities in Germany and other European countries where he formed partnerships that enabled him to learn the latest in modern medical approaches.

On October 30, 1990, he resigned his government positions, and in November began intensive research into establishing a private cardiology and diagnostic center which he named the Nur-Avicenum. By January of 1991 he was granted the first NGO and not for profit charter in Kazakhstan for a medical facility.

In order to finance his private practice, Dr. Kraisman sold his car an began seeing patients first in his apartment, and then at an industrial park serving workers of manufacturing plants. When the building that currently houses the hospital became available for sale, he went into further debt to purchase it.

The building was in an extreme state of disrepair

The building was in an extreme state of disrepair when it was purchased. Dr. Kraisman used funds when available from the growing practice to repair the building room by room. And then, in 1994, disaster struck- the entire economy of Kazakhstan entered a financial crisis that led to the failure of many businesses. Although the number of patients to the clinic increased, the patients couldn't pay for their care. State hospitals began to fail, and those doctors finding themselves out of work came to Nur-Avicenum seeking work. And though there wasn't the money the pay for the doctors, Dr. Kraisman took in those that he could.

During this time, he continued his study and research into modernizing healthcare in Kazakhstan and applied the results of his research in his working model at the Nur-Avicenum. Every new approach to healthcare was carefully studied and tested, and methods that proved successful were put into everyday practice at the hospital. Among changes to the entire medical and healthcare system he recommended in his study were accreditation for each clinic and hospital in Kazakhstan, individual certification for all doctors, standards in medical care meeting or exceeding the most advanced methods practiced world-wide and competition among medical facilities to reach accepted world standards in medical care.

The numbers of patients continued to increase dramatically while incoming revenues became almost non-existent. There were neither pharmaceuticals nor modern equipment in the country, and even if they had been available, there was no money to pay for them. The hospital was able to secure donations of pharmaceuticals for its most critically ill patients.

Dr. Kraisman spent many sleepless nights pondering not only the fate of Nur-Avicenum and the collapse of all medical care in Kazakhstan, but the possibility of the entire collapse of his beloved country.

The doctors sometimes lived at the clinic, eating only pasta and drinking water. Each sleepless night brought a new morning with long lines of patients seeking care. Each new day brought new energy to the staff. The doubts of the previous day were erased by caring for the countless patients who were in desperate financial straights, just as the doctors who served them. How could the hospital give up on them? How could the doctors forsake their sacred humanitarian oath?

It was if by some miracle that the Peace Corps program provided two $20,000 dollar grants after hearing of Dr. Kraisman's work. However, another financial disaster hit Kazakhstan in 1996 and even more businesses began to fail.

And then an event occurred that reaffirmed to Dr Kraisman and his dedicated staff that their work was having a positive impact not only in Taldykorgan and the Almaty Oblast, but in how healthcare was being delivered in all of Kazakhstan.

On the afternoon of December 7, 1995, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursaltan Nazarbayev, arrived at the hospital. He came to speak with Dr. Kraisman and learn the details of his medical success in the delivery of effective healthcare even without adequate funding. During their visit, the President not only toured the hospital and spoke with individual members of the staff, he spent an hour in Dr. Kraisman's office discussing the future of healthcare in Kazakhstan. It was during this part of the President's tour of the hospital that Dr. Kraisman shared with him the results of his study of healthcare reform that he had begun in 1991 and how those results were being applied at Nur-Avicenum.

President Nazarbayev visits Dr. Kraisman at Nur-Avicenum

Even with the country in a severe financial crisis, the President demonstrated his care by spending this time in the unheated hospital offering his encouragement to those who were sacrificing for their country and their patients in need.

Following this meeting, the Ministry of Health issued a government commendation to Dr. Kraisman, recognizing his work and dedication in the field of medicine. ^[3]

Despite growing recognition, financial problems continued to plague not only the clinic, but local businesses during the financial crisis. Businesses that remained open bartered with the clinic for medical service, and Nur-Avicenum continued to provide care for those in need. From 1996 to 1999, the hospital was only able to afford electricty for two hours a day. Dr. Kraisman used a battery system to store power when electricty was available allowing enough power to operate equipment for the hospital's most critically ill patients.

The United States Government continued its support by donating used hospital furniture and surplus military medical equipment. Some of this equipment is still in use today. The Grassroots program of the Japanese Government provided its first grant in 1999, and followed up with another grant in 2008 for the Nur-Avicenum intensive care unit. The Government of Denmark provided a grant to repair the bathroom facilities and the Government of Germany offered its scientists in visits to the hospital to provide modern medical advice. In addition, doctors from Nur-Avicenum are offered free training in Germany every year in the latest cardiology techniques. As well, other humanitarian groups seek to consult with Dr. Kraisman when providing aid to medical programs in Kazakhstan. ^[4]

On February 12, 2010, Dr. Kraisman was awarded the Kazakhstan Doctor's Gold Medal for his work in developing the national healthcare system and his lifelong work in improving the health of the citizens of Kazakhstan. ^[5]

In the summer 2012, Dr. Kraisman was invited by cardiac surgeon and healthcare pioneer Dr. Devi Shetty to visit Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore to learn Dr. Shetty's vision of healthcare and explore ways that both institutions might co-operate in their medical endeavors.

Also in 2012 began the first of a yearly on-going program of visits of volunteers from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Wharton is widely considered to be one of the world's best business schools. Both Business Week and Financial Times have consistently ranked Wharton among the world's top institutions for business education. Its undergraduate program has been ranked first in the United States by U.S. News & World Report since the rankings' inception. Wharton's MBA program has been ranked the best in the world by the Financial Times from 2000 to 2009 and again in 2011, tied with London Business School. In addition, Wharton usually receives the highest reputation scores from academics and recruiters. The primary mission and goal of the volunteer Wharton School program at Nur-Avicenum Hospital is to study and improve the ideas of Dr. Kraisman's innovative healthcare approach as well as those practices of such medical healthcare pioneers as Dr. Shetty and to develop a model that might be useful to medical facilities that are facing financial crisis world-wide.

In the summer of 2013, Nur-Avicenum will open a new 13 unit dialysis center made possible by a unique business partnership with hardware manufacturers from Germany. This will be yet another appraoch to delivering state of the art care at very low cost to the patient, yet operating at a profit and based in part on the Nur-Avicenum and Narayana Hrudayalaya model.

Dr. Vladimir Antonovich Kraisman, MD

Dr. Vladimir Kraisman continues to work 65 hours a week as founder, chief physician and director of Nur-Avicenum in his lifelong mission to serve others.

FOOTNOTES:

Letter from US Ambassador Elizabeth Jones referencing Dr. Kraisman's work. Back to text

Letter from the US Peace Corps Director in Kazakhstan referencing Dr. Kraisman's commendation "Outstanding Work in the Improvement of Public Health" by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursaltan Nazarbayev. Back to text

Government of Kazakhstan commendation awarded to Dr. Kraisman in the field of medicine, 1996. Back to text

Humanitarian groups seek to consult with Dr. Kraisman when providing aid to medical programs in Kazakhstan. Back to text

On February 12, 2010, Dr. Kraisman was awarded the Kazakhstan Doctor's Gold Medal for his work in developing the national healthcare system and his lifelong work to improving the health of the citizens of Kazakhstan. Back to text