Kazakhstan’s digital drug labeling system, which was due to be fully implemented by the end of 2025, has revealed extensive violations in the distribution and retail of pharmaceuticals. Infractions include the sale of medicines designated for free public distribution, code reuse, and the sale of expired drugs.
Introduced in mid-2024, the digital labeling system assigns a unique identifier to every medication package. Kazakhstan is now the only country in Central Asia with a state-controlled, end-to-end digital traceability system covering the entire pharmaceutical supply chain from production and import to pharmacy sales.
According to Tanba, the unified national operator for product labeling and traceability, over 708.6 million medicine packages had been labeled as of December 1, 2025. The system now includes nearly all market participants: 19 domestic manufacturers, more than 143 foreign manufacturers, over 300 importers and distributors, approximately 3,900 medical organizations, 4,848 pharmacies, and 3,019 additional supply chain entities.
Mandatory labeling applies to all drugs produced after July 1, 2024, and sold within the country. The unique codes allow authorities to trace each medicine’s journey from factory to pharmacy or medical facility, enhancing procurement forecasting and minimizing counterfeit risks.
The system automatically detects irregularities in real time. Recent analysis uncovered that some private pharmacies were selling medications purchased with public funds that were meant to be distributed free of charge under the state’s guaranteed volume of free medical care. More than 15,000 such packages were reportedly sold.
Additionally, authorities identified over 6,500 reused digital codes, registered a total of more than 385,000 times, and more than 750 cases involving the sale of expired medications.
The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the government transferred control of the Social Medical Insurance Fund to the Ministry of Finance in January, following revelations of violations within the fund’s operations.
