Kazakhstan Bolsters Healthcare Partnerships with Turkic Nations and WHO
Kazakh Prime Minister Discusses Healthcare with Organization of Turkic States and WHO Regional Director
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov recently met with the Ministers of Health from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and Hans Kluge, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe. During the meeting, Akmaral Alnazarova, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, presented a report on the outcomes of the fifth meeting of OTS Health Ministers.
The discussions focused on plans to strengthen Kazakhstan’s engagement with the OTS through the exchange of expertise and the transfer of modern medical technologies. Proposals aimed at developing healthcare in Kazakhstan and its partner countries were also considered. The participants emphasized the importance of a coordinated response by the OTS member states to address global health challenges.
Prime Minister Bektenov highlighted the significance of coordinated efforts and close partnerships in tackling large-scale health threats. He noted that Kazakhstan is currently undergoing a major healthcare modernization process, which includes the construction of new infrastructure, the establishment of multidisciplinary clinics, and the modernization of medical equipment. Kazakhstan is also working to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry.
The meeting also discussed Kazakhstan’s progress in improving healthcare services, with a focus on developing primary healthcare, providing emergency care, combating tuberculosis and other diseases, and enhancing pharmacological cooperation. Efforts to improve water hygiene were also addressed.
Cooperation with the WHO is being carried out within the framework of two-year cooperation agreements between the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Kazakh Ministry of Health. Key areas of cooperation for 2024-2025 include universal health service coverage, emergency preparedness, prevention of non-communicable diseases, and implementing the One Health approach.
Hans Kluge commended Kazakhstan’s efforts to reduce premature mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases through comprehensive preventive measures. He noted that Kazakhstan is one of only ten countries globally to achieve a reduction in premature deaths from diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Kazakhstan is implementing various initiatives to ensure accessible and high-quality primary care, including advanced nursing practices, early detection screenings for cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and the establishment of competence centers for cardiology, oncology, and endocrinology. Investment in the country’s healthcare sector has been growing, with a significant portion coming from the private sector.
Over the past five years, Kazakhstan has opened 784 new medical facilities, including primary healthcare centers, as part of the National Project for Rural Healthcare Modernization. Life expectancy at birth has also increased significantly.
Following the meeting, the officials signed a Joint Declaration on health matters, a Joint Action Plan for healthcare, and several memorandums of cooperation in personnel training and biological safety. The health ministers of the Organization of Turkic States also signed a memorandum, transforming Kazakhstan’s National Coordination Center for Emergency Medicine into a single platform for cooperation.
Overall, the discussions and agreements reached during the meeting highlight Kazakhstan’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services and addressing global health challenges in collaboration with its partners in the region and beyond.
