Kazakhstan to give up on free medical aid for several diseases
Akmaral Alnazarova, Kazakhstan’s minister of healthcare, has presented a complete list of diseases that will be transferred from the statutory free-of-charge medical assistance (SFMA) to the Mandatory Social Health Insurance (MSHI) package. According to her, around 15% of Kazakhstanis do not have any medical insurance.
«Our recent analysis of almost all diseases has shown that, on average, 85% to 87% of Kazakhstanis have medical insurance. For some diseases, the rate is nearly 100%. The remaining population must also obtain insured status in the MSHI. Once they do, they’ll receive access to medical care as well,» Alnazarova explained at a briefing for the media.
Here is the list of the diseases to be excluded from the SFMA package:
- Liver diseases;
- Thyroid diseases;
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia emerged during the perinatal period;
- Conformational disorders;
- Congenital heart disorders in the postoperative period;
- Prostatic hyperplasia;
- Benign mammary dysplasia;
- Upper gastrointestinal tract diseases;
- Hemic and hematopoietic gland diseases;
- Noninflammatory disorders of female genital tract;
- Arthropathy and dorsopathy;
- Noninfectious enteritis and colitis.
Which diseases will remain on the list of the statutory free-of-charge medical healthcare?
She also noted that the 2025 SFMA package will still include 13 socially significant diseases and provide 24-hour and day-patient care, dynamic observation and ambulatory medical support. The diseases in question are:
- Tuberculosis;
- Psychiatry and addiction psychiatry;
- Oncology and hematologic oncology;
- HIV;
- Central nervous system diseases;
- Cerebral palsy;
- Orphan diseases;
- Acute myocardial infarction;
- Rheumatic disease;
- Endocrine disorders;
- Eating and metabolic disorders;
- Systemic connective tissue disorders;
- Chronic hepatitis infection with cirrhosis.
«Ambulance first aid remains as it is in the SFMA package, including contagious disease treatment, ambulatory hemodialysis, high-tech medical care in all cases of emergency, treatment abroad, blood preparation supply, end-of-life care, nursing care and emergency in-patient care for those without insurance,» Alnazarova added.
She also noted that nine disease groups which require dynamic observation will remain in the statutory healthcare package. These include:
- Arrhythmia;
- Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter;
- Arterial hypertension;
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases;
- Glomerular diseases;
- Extracranial diseases of innominate arteries;
- Coronary heart disease;
- Chronic interstitial nephritis;
- Systemic connective tissue disorders;
- Heart valve diseases and epilepsy.
What will change starting from 2026?
The minister reported that from 2026, all Kazakhstanis, regardless of their insurance status, will have access to free diagnostic services when there is a suspicion of 17 socially significant diseases. Currently, this option is only available for HIV and tuberculosis.
«If a socially significant disease is in question, then, starting from 2026, we plan to ensure that the SFMA package covers its treatment until the ultimate diagnosis is made,» she clarified.
Furthermore, individuals insured in the MSHI system already have access to inpatient coronary angiography and brachiocephalic vessel ultrasonography. Alnazarova believes that this measure contributes to reducing the incidence of acute cerebral circulatory disorders and myocardial infarction.
In late October, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare revealed its plans to expand the MSHI package disease list at the expense of an additional seven socially significant diseases by 2027. As the minister emphasized at the time, these diseases are primarily childhood medical conditions fully covered by public funding.
