Reduction in the deficit of medical professionals declared by Health Ministry

In a significant stride towards improving healthcare services, especially in rural areas, the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan has announced several initiatives.

Starting September 1, training will commence for six specialties: Family Medicine, Therapy, Pediatrics, Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Additionally, to address the need for specialists in pediatric profiles, training will start in 14 pediatric specialties in residency.

To attract and retain doctors in rural areas, the government has taken a proactive step. Since October 2024, 254 doctors in 13 critically short specialty areas have received a one-time payment of 8.5 million tenge each. This move is part of an effort to address the shortage of medical personnel in rural Kazakhstan, which has decreased by 16% and 7% for doctors and mid-level medical personnel, respectively.

The number of doctors sent to rural medical organizations in 2025 was almost four times more than the previous year, totaling 370. Out of the 11,626 young specialists who graduated from medical universities in Kazakhstan in 2025, 1,333 were sent to rural medical organizations.

The government's support extends beyond financial incentives. Scholarships have been increased by 20% for all levels of medical education. Furthermore, the educational programs for training medical personnel at the undergraduate level have been revised to increase the number of credits for basic disciplines at the expense of general education.

These developments were reported by Liter.kz, citing the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A total of 1,000 grants have been allocated for residency training in Kazakhstan.

These initiatives aim to improve the healthcare landscape in Kazakhstan, ensuring better access to medical services for all its citizens, particularly those living in rural areas.