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Healthcare

Kazakhstan Faces Scandal Over Drug Procurement System

A political and financial scandal is emerging in Kazakhstan following revelations from the Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC) concerning widespread violations in the country’s public drug procurement system. Deputy Health Minister Ardak Amangeldiev has not ruled out legal action against the SAC after its findings were presented to parliament. SAC Chairman Alikhan Smailov, a former prime minister, said that some materials have already been referred to law enforcement, prompting several members of parliament to call for systemic reform. Audit Uncovers Extensive Irregularities Kazakhstan’s public drug procurement system was audited in both 2023 and 2024. According to Smailov, auditors identified the following violations: Financial losses totaling KZT 741 million (approximately $1.4 million); Inefficient use of KZT 32 billion ($62.7 million); Lost profit amounting to KZT 58 billion ($113 million). In total, 134 cases have been referred for administrative proceedings, with five cases passed to law enforcement agencies. Among the most alarming findings was the discovery of more than 67,000 cases involving expired medications being dispensed, rendering them unusable and resulting in budgetary losses. Auditors also identified extreme price discrepancies, up to 600%, for 15 of the most expensive drugs when comparing public sector prices with those in the retail market. Smailov suggested that medicines intended for free outpatient care were being illicitly written off and sold through commercial pharmacies. Delays in medication deliveries were cited as a major cause of treatment disruptions. Quarterly instead of monthly shipments caused shortages, forcing patients to buy medications out-of-pocket. One particularly troubling case involved a private supplier delivering 62 million medical gloves in 2024 for KZT 8 billion ($15.6 million). Auditors noted the batch's specifications matched those of products imported from Thailand during the same period, suggesting they were resold as “domestically produced” goods. The SAC also questioned the rationale behind long-term procurement contracts. State-run distributor SK Pharmacy has signed agreements with domestic manufacturers for up to 10 years. Over the past five years, total purchases under such contracts increased from KZT 69 billion to KZT 112 billion (approximately $135 million to $220 million). However, the number of unique domestically produced drugs dropped from 968 to 507, indicating a growing reliance on basic medical devices rather than genuinely localized pharmaceutical production. Ministry of Health Pushes Back The Ministry of Health has disputed several of the audit’s conclusions. Deputy Minister Amangeldiev told journalists that the evidence cited in many of the findings was insufficient. The ministry has filed a pre-trial claim against the SAC. “We have verified that the evidence is insufficient for a number of facts. We have sent a pre-trial claim. If we cannot reach an understanding, there will be a court case. As a state body, we have a constitutional right to defend our honor and dignity and to provide evidence on all points,” Amangeldiev stated at a parliamentary session. Parliamentary Voices Demand Reform Notably, no government agency in Kazakhstan has ever challenged an SAC audit in court. Still, some members of the Mazhilis have supported the chamber’s conclusions and are calling for sweeping...

Healthcare

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.

Healthcare

Top Kyrgyz Heart Surgeon Warns of Critical Infrastructure Shortfalls Costing Lives

Prominent heart surgeon Kaldarbek Abdramanov has issued a stark warning about the dire state of cardiac care in Kyrgyzstan, stating that thousands of lives are being lost due to the lack of adequate medical infrastructure. His urgent appeal, posted on Facebook, has sparked widespread public concern. Abdramanov emphasized that while Kyrgyz cardiac surgeons have performed more than 70,000 heart surgeries since the country’s first operation in 1959, systemic failures are now threatening the field’s progress. “Although we do not yet perform heart transplants, which is every cardiac surgeon’s dream, this is due to a lack of proper infrastructure and equipment, not knowledge,” he wrote. The surgeon recalled a fire last winter at the Research Institute of Heart Surgery and Organ Transplantation, which left the facility severely damaged. Since then, staff have been working in makeshift, substandard conditions not suited for complex procedures. He criticized the international aid programs targeted at the center as largely symbolic, offering little real assistance. “We are the students and followers of the great Isa Akhunbaev. We’ve conducted 70,000 heart surgeries and perform nearly all procedures that clinics in Europe and the U.S. do. We have the expertise and the specialists, but not the environment to support our work,” Abdramanov stated. He called for the urgent construction of a new, modern cardiology complex with at least 250 beds. “Yes, such facilities are expensive. But no cost is higher than the lives of hundreds or thousands of citizens who die each year due to the absence of this kind of center,” he warned. Abdramanov also voiced frustration with foreign medical missions, accusing them of offering superficial support. “They come and perform basic surgeries that our young specialists could handle. They don’t teach us new technologies and they don’t leave behind any equipment. This is not real help,” he said. His remarks come amid political fallout in the health sector. President Sadyr Japarov recently publicly criticized Health Minister Erkin Chechebaev for failing to manage the country's hospitals effectively. The president was informed that 24 children with critical heart conditions are awaiting surgery, with three deaths reported in recent days.

Healthcare

UNICEF Delivers Over 500 Pieces of Medical Equipment to Tajikistan

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has handed over more than 500 units of modern medical equipment to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan in a significant move to bolster the country's healthcare system. The official handover ceremony took place on May 6 in Dushanbe and was attended by Deputy Health Minister Shodikhon Jamshed and international partners. Jamshed expressed gratitude for UNICEF’s longstanding cooperation, adding that such support plays a vital role in strengthening Tajikistan’s healthcare capacity. The new equipment, including CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines and oxygen concentrators, will be used to treat newborns with respiratory difficulties and patients requiring oxygen therapy. “The equipment will be distributed across 73 neonatal care facilities nationwide. Additionally, training courses will be held for healthcare workers on using these devices and providing respiratory care to newborns,” Jamshed stated. Since its founding in 1946, UNICEF has been active in Tajikistan through various initiatives aimed at advancing children's rights and improving access to essential services such as education and healthcare. One of its flagship efforts includes a $1 million juvenile justice reform project, implemented in partnership with the Swiss government. The initiative seeks to establish alternative measures for minors in conflict with the law, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration. In the field of early education, UNICEF and USAID are implementing a five-year, $7.5 million program to enhance school readiness. This includes teacher training, updated educational materials, and the promotion of inclusive learning environments. To address malnutrition, UNICEF has launched a three-year program in Khatlon and Dushanbe aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition and reducing mortality. Emphasis is placed on primary healthcare and preventive measures. In collaboration with the European Union, UNICEF is also contributing to the restoration of medical infrastructure. One example is the refurbishment of the central district hospital in Tursunzade, part of Tajikistan’s National Health Strategy 2030, designed to expand access to essential health services across the country.

STEM

Video: From Hardship to Accomplishment – Meet the Kazakh Woman Supporting Female STEM Students

Kalmakhanova Marzhan Seitkyzy is a young professor in Kazakhstan supporting female students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), offering guidance and helping them navigate the realities of research work. Watch her story: [video width="3840" height="2160" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Конкурс-2.mp4"][/video]

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Fund Health Insurance for Over A Million Unemployed Citizens

Beginning in 2026, more than one million unemployed and vulnerable citizens in Kazakhstan will be covered by the country’s compulsory medical insurance system (CMIS). Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced that local and regional budgets will assume responsibility for insurance contributions on their behalf. Expanding Access to Medical Coverage Kazakhstan’s current health insurance model requires employed citizens to contribute 2% of their monthly salary, capped at 17,000 KZT (approximately $33), to the Fund for Social Medical Insurance (FSMI). Employers pay an additional 3% of each employee’s salary, while individual entrepreneurs contribute 5% of their income. However, unemployed citizens, even if officially registered, are presently excluded from the system. In response to a directive issued by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in February 2024, the Ministry of Health has drafted legislation that would enable local governments to make insurance payments for unemployed and vulnerable groups. The bill was submitted to the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, for consideration. “This is a step towards improving people’s health and quality of life,” Alnazarova said. “Local budgets will cover the contributions, and these individuals will receive insured status on a monthly basis, regardless of income.” The change is expected to extend coverage to over one million additional citizens, granting them access to scheduled medical care. Systemic Reforms and Contribution Cap Adjustment The ministry also proposes raising the upper limit for contribution calculations from 10 to 50 times the minimum monthly wage. As of 2025, one minimum wage is 85,000 KZT (approximately $165), making the new cap 4.25 million KZT (around $8,100). The adjustment would impact approximately 9% of employees, roughly 508,000 individuals, and their employers. “In global practice, income limits are not applied. In our country, high-income earners currently pay proportionally less than others,” Alnazarova explained, justifying the reform as a measure toward fairness and sustainability. Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Insurance Fund The draft legislation has revived long-standing criticism of the FSMI's governance. During recent Mazhilis debates, MP Murat Abenov accused the fund of lacking transparency and accountability. “The SMIF checks itself, allocates funds itself, concludes contracts itself, and determines violations itself. Many infractions go unnoticed by both ministries and the public. If not for the Supreme Audit Chamber, we wouldn’t even know that billions are being embezzled,” Abenov stated during a parliamentary session. This follows earlier opposition by several MPs to a proposed 10% tax hike on medicines and healthcare services during discussions surrounding the new Tax Code.