Your next therapist could be an AI: Kazakhstan launches hospital trials
Kazakhstan is testing a new service called «AI therapist,» an artificial intelligence system capable of making preliminary diagnoses with up to 80% accuracy.
AI for routine tasks
The service is being piloted at several medical facilities in the Akmola region.
«The system analyzes the dialogue between a doctor and a patient in real time, forms a preliminary diagnosis with an accuracy of up to 80%, and allows the doctor to cut routine paperwork time by up to 40%,» the Ministry of Healthcare said in a statement.
In healthcare, the idea of replacing human doctors altogether by streamlining tasks with AI appears unrealistic. However, AI could potentially take over routine tasks performed by Kazakhstan’s civil servants — a shift that may lead to a reduction in government staff, according to Minister of Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev.
Speaking to journalists in December 2024, Madiyev explained that AI will automate repetitive tasks, freeing up government officials to focus on more creative, intellectual and strategic work that requires human involvement. But he noted that there are currently no definitive predictions about the potential scale of staff reductions.
Notably, in May 2025, Kazakhstan’s National Guard, the country’s internal security force, announced plans to introduce an AI-powered system to detect psychological issues among its servicemen.
Telemedicine and video badges
The Ministry of Healthcare also introduced a mobile telemedicine app designed for remote health monitoring, a crucial tool for residents in rural areas. Through the app, Kazakhstanis will be able to track blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, blood oxygen levels and glucose.
Telemedicine services will be available to residents of rural areas in Kazakhstan by fall 2025.
Meanwhile, five ambulance teams in Astana are piloting smart video badges. The devices record video calls and serve as rapid-response tools in emergencies. The ministry said doctors in Almaty will start using the badges soon.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to protect healthcare workers. Last year, lawmakers approved the ministry’s proposal to make violence against medical personnel a criminal offense.
Doctors under attack
Following recent attacks on medical personnel, Minister of Healthcare Akmaral Alnazarova announced plans to bolster 24-hour security at emergency rooms, children’s hospitals and perinatal centers. Medical facilities will also be equipped with video surveillance, panic buttons and other security measures.
Over the past five years, about 160 attacks on medical workers have been recorded in Kazakhstan, some resulting in serious injuries.
