Kazakhstan ramps up training for military medics

More than 200 future Kazakhstani military medics are currently undergoing training in the country and abroad, according to the Ministry of Defense. In 2027, about 40 graduates of bachelor’s, internship and residency programs will join military medical units in Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces.

Most of these specialists — 150 cadets, including more than 80 women — are studying at the Military Institute of the Air Defense Forces in Aktobe. The cadets also study medical disciplines at West Kazakhstan Medical University.

More than 50 other future military doctors are studying at medical universities in Turkey, Armenia, China and Russia.

Training of specialized medical professionals

At the Ministry of Defense’s request, national universities also train military medics in specialized medical disciplines such as surgery, anesthesiology and intensive care, internal medicine, radiology and clinical laboratory diagnostics. For instance, targeted educational grants have been allocated for residency training at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University and Astana Medical University.

«The program to recruit young specialists to meet the needs of military medical institutions is being implemented for the second consecutive year. Currently, 16 individuals are undergoing training and will subsequently serve in our units,» said Berik Ilyasov, colonel of the medical service and deputy chief of the Main Military Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces.

Residency training is funded through cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Healthcare.