Kazakhstan's Life Span Outdoes Worldwide Average
In Kazakhstan, significant strides have been made in the healthcare sector over the past few years, with a focus on expanding access, enhancing quality, and improving affordability.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been instrumental in driving these changes, emphasizing the need to boost domestic production of essential medicines and improving the efficiency of the mandatory health insurance system. In August 2024, Tokayev met with Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova to discuss these priorities and more.
One of the key initiatives has been the implementation of the Accessible Clinic concept, aimed at enhancing patient services nationwide. This includes ongoing efforts to expand screening programs and improve the efficiency of primary healthcare. The government has also made significant progress in reducing the shortage of doctors and mid-level medical personnel, with a decrease of 19% and 7% respectively compared to the previous year.
These efforts have yielded positive results. Maternal and infant mortality rates in 2024 fell to historic lows and continue to decline. Overall mortality decreased by 3% in the first half of 2025. Perhaps most notably, life expectancy in Kazakhstan reached 75.4 years in 2024, surpassing the global average for the first time.
Alnazarova has also outlined priority measures for the coming years, including ongoing reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of primary healthcare. She has emphasized the need for measures to ensure better protection for medical workers, including stricter legislation and rapid-response protocols in cases of workplace attacks.
In a bid to make healthcare more affordable, the government has been working on improving the affordability of medicine and strengthening oversight of pharmaceutical distribution. Starting in 2026, the government plans to provide medical insurance coverage to 1 million socially vulnerable citizens. However, specific information on measures enacted by the Kazakhstan government from 2026 to improve the health insurance system for socially disadvantaged citizens is not yet available.
President Tokayev has also instructed the government to complete the construction of rural primary healthcare facilities under the Modernization of Rural Healthcare national project by the end of 2025. This initiative is part of the ongoing effort to enhance healthcare quality and accessibility nationwide.
In conclusion, Kazakhstan's healthcare sector has seen significant improvements in recent years, with a focus on expanding access, enhancing quality, and improving affordability. These efforts have resulted in a decline in mortality rates, an increase in life expectancy, and a decrease in the shortage of healthcare professionals. The government's ongoing initiatives, such as the expansion of rural healthcare facilities and the provision of medical insurance coverage to socially vulnerable citizens, are expected to continue this positive trend.
