Zhanna Asanova, a member of the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has proposed allowing private medical laboratories to conduct examinations for alcohol and drug intoxication in drivers. The proposal was submitted as a parliamentary inquiry addressed to the government.
At present, such medical examinations are conducted exclusively by state-run medical institutions equipped with laboratory facilities. However, Asanova argued that the capacity of this system is severely limited. Citing Almaty as an example, she noted that Kazakhstan’s largest city, with a population exceeding two million, currently has only two state laboratories handling all intoxication-related cases. This, she said, hinders the timely processing of examinations.
Asanova emphasized that the current centralized model creates both procedural delays and corruption risks. The absence of alternative institutions undermines public trust in the objectivity of results and creates opportunities for abuse.
“The remoteness and overload of laboratories mean that individuals remain in a vulnerable procedural position for hours, while police officers waste time and resources. This undermines the overall effectiveness of the law enforcement system,” she said.
The senator also noted that citizens currently have no right to choose their testing institution or request an independent re-examination, which restricts their ability to mount an effective legal defense.
Another risk, according to Asanova, stems from the heavy workload and outdated equipment in some state laboratories. These limitations can lead to procedural violations during sample collection, storage, and analysis, ultimately compromising the reliability of evidence presented in court.
She also pointed out that existing equipment in state labs is not always capable of detecting a broad spectrum of psychoactive substances, including synthetic, combined, and toxic compounds such as so-called “salts”, which require more advanced testing technologies.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has a network of private laboratories equipped with modern diagnostic tools and staffed by qualified professionals, but their resources remain largely untapped within the current system.
As a solution, Asanova proposed creating a new model that would allow accredited private laboratories to conduct medical examinations on equal footing with state institutions, and to include them in a unified national register. She also called for granting citizens the right to independently select a laboratory for repeat testing.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to reform Kazakhstan’s road safety system. Previously The Times of Central Asia reported that Senator Marat Kozhaev had proposed introducing an “idiocy test” for repeat traffic offenders as a potential basis for revoking their driving licenses.
