Kazakhstan to Expand Use of AI for Early Detection of Strokes and Cancer

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health is moving to expand the use of AI to improve early diagnosis of strokes, cancer, and other high-impact diseases. Officials say the rollout aims to reduce mortality, increase diagnostic accuracy, and ease the workload of healthcare professionals. According to the ministry, a list of priority AI initiatives has been compiled to help detect socially significant diseases at early stages and support clinical decision-making. The targeted areas include stroke, lung cancer, breast cancer, and dental diagnostics through the analysis of medical imagery using machine learning algorithms. Several platforms are already operational and are being integrated more widely into the national healthcare system. Among the current AI platforms in use: Cerebra – deployed in nine category II and III stroke centers across five regions, capable of identifying stroke symptoms in under three minutes; WDsoft – used in 190 healthcare facilities in 10 regions to assist in the early detection of cancer and pneumonia; AIDENTIS – adopted by 65 dental clinics and three medical universities to analyze X-ray imagery; ALIMA – an AI-based medical assistant now active in over 700 clinics nationwide. The ALIMA platform processes patient complaints, medical records, and images to suggest potential diagnoses, recommend examinations, and propose treatment plans aligned with clinical protocols. These AI initiatives rely on computing resources provided by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, including eight graphics processors, and are supported through API-based integrations. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Health intends to introduce AI tools to evaluate pharmaceuticals and medical devices and to launch a project for early detection of chronic heart failure using the Smart ECG system. This technology enables remote interpretation of electrocardiograms in clinics that lack specialized functional diagnostics staff. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstani surgeons recently conducted the region's first joint replacement surgeries in Tashkent using the MAKO robotic system, another example of the country’s growing investment in med-tech innovation.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Strengthen Cooperation on Cancer Treatment and Child Health

At the high-level conference, “Dialogue for Children: Central Asia and UNICEF,” held recently in Tashkent, the health ministers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan met to expand bilateral cooperation in healthcare. Kazakhstan’s Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova and her Uzbek counterpart Asilbek Khudayarov discussed a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of medical services in both countries. According to the Uzbek Health Ministry, the discussions focused on joint research projects, the exchange of medical expertise, and collaboration within the coalition of countries supporting primary healthcare. The two sides also considered conducting environmental studies in the Aral Sea region to assess the health impacts of local ecological conditions. Focus on Pediatric Health and Cancer Treatment Children’s health emerged as a central theme in the talks. Kazakhstan proposed establishing an international academic hub for childhood cancer and offered to take the lead on the initiative. Minister Alnazarova outlined Kazakhstan’s use of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods for pediatric cancer, including immunohistochemistry, immunophenotyping, tumor marker detection, high-dose chemotherapy for bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and organ-preserving surgeries. She also announced that a new Proton Therapy Center will open in Astana this October. The center is expected to treat over 800 patients annually and will offer radioiodine therapy for children from across Central Asia. Kazakhstan also proposed creating two additional international hubs: one for adult oncology and oncohematology, and another for pediatric heart surgery at the UMC Heart Center. The heart surgery hub would be open to patients from Uzbekistan, including children from Karakalpakstan. Alnazarova noted that several areas of Kazakhstan’s healthcare system now meet international standards, with hospitals adopting globally recognized technologies and practices. Expanding Bilateral Healthcare Ties To deepen bilateral engagement, the two ministers agreed to hold “Kazakhstan Medicine Days” in Uzbekistan in 2025, followed by “Uzbekistan Medicine Days” in Kazakhstan in 2026. They also endorsed the creation of an international healthcare hub to promote cross-border collaboration. In a related development, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, announced in March that the country is developing a new anti-cancer drug. Phase II clinical trials, completed last year, showed promising results, including an average tumor size reduction of 30%. The drug is expected to be registered and released to the market by the end of 2024.