Government Is Modernizing the Health Insurance System Using Artificial Intelligence
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At a Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the issue of modernizing the Compulsory Social Health Insurance system was discussed. Reports were delivered by Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova and Chairman of the Social Health Insurance Fund Aydyn Kulseitov, primeminister.kz reports.
Under the instruction of the Head of State, the modernization of the compulsory social health insurance system is underway. Systematic work is being carried out in this direction, which will improve the accessibility and quality of medical care. Our priority is to make the healthcare system transparent, fair, and, most importantly, accessible to all citizens," the Prime Minister emphasized.
To this end, a Law has been adopted aimed at improving the CSHI system, which will create conditions for the long-term financial sustainability of the healthcare sector, as well as expand the list of services provided and improve their quality. Starting in 2026, health insurance will additionally cover low-income segments of the population through local budget funds, ensuring more equitable access to medical care for all citizens.
The implementation of large-scale changes requires clear coordination between central and local authorities. In this regard, Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry of Labor and regional akimats, to ensure coordinated work on introducing the new health insurance mechanism.
It is necessary to take into account the concerns of citizens about the accessibility and quality of medical care and the availability of free medicines. Some innovations are not entirely clear to the population. Every Kazakhstani citizen must be informed about the mechanism for obtaining medical care and the ongoing work to improve it," the Prime Minister noted.
At the same time, the procedure for providing medical care and the scope of services for children, pensioners, people with disabilities, and other preferential categories will remain unchanged.
In addition, the active development of medical infrastructure continues. This year, the construction of 655 healthcare facilities is being completed, which will provide access to primary healthcare for more than one million rural residents. In 2025, 3 trillion tenge from the state budget is allocated for the provision of medical care.
Given this, the Ministry of Health has been instructed to ensure strict control over the effective use of funds and the quality of medical services, including through the introduction of digital tools and elements of artificial intelligence. It is also necessary to revise healthcare standards, simplify procedures, and make the system as convenient as possible for patients.
Attention was also given to the work of the Social Health Insurance Fund. Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the need to accelerate the Fund’s business processes, including in the areas of planning, payments, and procurement.
Overall, it was noted that the transformation of the healthcare system requires coordinated and urgent actions to make medical care accessible, sustainable, and responsive to citizens’ needs.
Following the discussion, the Prime Minister gave several instructions:
- The Ministry of Healthcare, together with the Social Health Insurance Fund, must complete by the end of the current year the automation and optimization of the Fund’s business processes, including the relaunch of the digital platform with user-friendly services for citizens and medical organizations.
- The Ministry of Healthcare, together with the Ministry of Culture and Information, must prepare and implement by December 1 of this year a plan for informational and explanatory work on the new health insurance regulations.
- Regional akimats and the Ministry of Healthcare must take effective measures to improve the quality of medical care and ensure the fulfillment of obligations for contributions to the insurance system. Akimats should also be fully involved in implementing all introduced changes at the local level.
Coordination and control are assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev.
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Kazakhstan mulls social media age restrictions
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Majilis Deputy Askhat Aimagambetov proposed age restrictions for access to social media during debates on the first reading of the draft Digital Code in the Kazakh parliament’s lower chamber Wednesday, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Aimagambetov stated children aged 5-6 use social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram without parental consent, verification, and other restrictions.
There is a number of countries where such restrictions are applied. For instance, Denmark and Australia introduced a social media ban for children under 15-16, while in the U.S., GB, and Ireland, parental consent and verification is required for social media. What is the position of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and the Ministry of Enlightenment? Such a rule can be introduced under this law," said Aimagambetov.
In addition, the Kazakh deputy touched upon the issue of smartphone use in schools.
Kazakhstan’s NIS, BIL and other top-tier schools stated their position, banning smartphones in schools. The ban has yielded positive results, leading to better communication among children and improved performance," he noted.
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Russian Su-35 fighter jets escort President Tokayev’s plane ahead of Moscow visit
Images | Akorda
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will pay a state visit to the Russian Federation on November 11-12, 2025, Kazinform News Agency cites Akorda.
Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets of the Russian Ministry of Defense are escorting the President of Kazakhstan’s aircraft in Russian airspace, from the moment it crossed the border until landing at Moscow airport," the Akorda press service said.
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In Some Regions, Local Authorities Are Exercising Weak Oversight over Construction Progress - Bektenov on Railway Station Modernization
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During the Government session, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov addressed the issue of modernization and reconstruction of railway stations, primeminister.kz reports.
He noted that the work began earlier this year. In a short timeframe, contractors were identified and awarded turnkey contracts under terms acceptable to both them and regional administrations.
The Government has done everything necessary to ensure timely implementation of this task. However, as we can see, some regional administrations are exercising weak control over construction progress. There are high risks of project delays in the Zhetysu, Abay, Ulytau, Akmola, and Aktobe regions. In the Mangystau Region, work on one station is behind schedule. In the city of Almaty, modernization of the Almaty-1 station is being delayed. I consider this a shortcoming on the part of local executive bodies. All construction work must be completed within the established deadlines and with full compliance to quality standards. Personal responsibility for fulfilling this task lies with the heads of local executive authorities," Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.
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Bektenov Instructs to Prevent Unjustified Price Increases for Medicines and Medical Devices in the Retail Sector
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At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the issue of ensuring the population’s access to medicines was discussed. The heads of the Ministry of Health and SK-Pharmacy delivered reports on the matter, primeminister.kz reports.
As part of the President’s instructions to reform pricing mechanisms, the Ministry of Health has carried out systematic work that resulted in a 30% reduction in maximum prices for generic drugs compared to original medicines. Marketing and transportation expenses have been excluded from the price formation mechanism. Ministry specialists now have access to current drug prices in over 100 countries, which made it possible to adjust prices for 2,900 types of medicines provided free of charge or subsidized by the state under the Guaranteed Volume of Free Medical Care (GVFMC) and Compulsory Social Health Insurance (CSHI), as well as for 4,900 items sold in pharmacies. All participants of Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical market are connected to the product labeling system, enhancing transparency in the circulation of medicines.
Work is underway to digitize the sector and introduce artificial intelligence. Integration of electronic prescription and drug supply systems into medical information platforms has reduced prescription processing time by half. Moreover, under the Social Wallet project, more than 10 million electronic prescriptions have been issued using digital tools.
The Head of State has set an important task - to increase the quantity and range of domestically produced medicines. To achieve this, a simplified registration mechanism for medicines and medical devices has been introduced. As a result, the registration period for new drugs in Kazakhstan has been reduced from two to five years to just 100 working days. This significantly improves access for our citizens to the latest medicines, treatment methods, and diagnostics. In addition, a new quality control mechanism for medicines and medical devices has been implemented, which includes selective market sampling and testing of products from healthcare organizations. This approach will help prevent counterfeit products from entering the domestic market," Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.
The Prime Minister noted that the Government continues to systematically support Kazakh pharmaceutical manufacturers, with the main goal being to reduce dependence on external markets and ensure affordable access to medicines for the population.
At the same time, risks remain concerning timely delivery of medicines, especially at the beginning of the year, due to logistical issues and lengthy procurement procedures.
For many categories of patients, uninterrupted access to medicines is crucial. Work in this area must be strengthened," Olzhas Bektenov instructed.
To address such challenges, active digital transformation of the sector is underway. An information system is being introduced to enable real-time monitoring and tracking of medicine availability.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to build a system ensuring that every prescribed medicine is available in pharmacies, of proper quality, and at an affordable price. The Ministry of Health, together with SK-Pharmacy and local administrations, has been instructed to ensure timely procurement and uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical devices for the coming year.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister issued several directives to government bodies and local authorities:
- The Ministry of Healthcare, jointly with the antimonopoly agency, must take measures to prevent unjustified price increases for medicines in the retail segment.
- The Ministry of Healthcare, together with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, must implement AI tools in the healthcare system - particularly in planning, prescribing, and procurement processes for medicines and medical devices - and ensure prompt response to citizens’ concerns and complaints.
- The Ministry of Healthcare, jointly with the Ministry of Culture and Information and regional administrations, must carry out ongoing public awareness campaigns on medical supply issues, using mass media, digital platforms, social networks, and regional events.
Our goal is to make the healthcare system as transparent, fair, and accessible as possible for all citizens," Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov concluded.
Coordination and oversight of the implementation of these tasks are assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev.
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President Tokayev lands in Washington
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Tonight President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has landed in Washington, D.C. The Head of State was greeted by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Kazinform News Agency has learnt from the Akorda press service.
In Washington, D.C., Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will hold talks with his American counterpart President Donald Trump and will also participate in the C5+1 + summit.
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Kazakhstan adopts core principles and priorities of domestic policy
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The Head of State decreed to approve the core principles, values, and focus areas of Kazakhstan's domestic policy, Kazinform News Agency has learned from Akorda.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the decree "On approving the core principles, values, and focus areas of the domestic policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
At the 4th session of the Ulttyq Qurultay (National Congress), experts and public figures proposed creating a unified guiding document to systematize domestic policy activities. The idea was supported by the President, who stressed that the document should serve to coordinate the activities of state bodies.
The core principles, values, and focus areas of the domestic policy were developed by the Presidential Executive Office in cooperation with relevant government agencies, based on the President's annual State of the Nation addresses and speeches, as well as the 2029 Kazakhstan National Development Plan.
Members of the Ulttyq Qurultay, experts, and representatives of public and scientific organizations actively participated in drafting the document.
Primarily intended for government authorities, the document aims to coordinate and systematize work in the field of domestic policy.
It outlines the following principles of domestic political work: "Law and Order," "A Listening State," "Different Opinions - One Nation," "Strong President - Influential Parliament - Accountable Government," "Adal Azamat" ("Honest Citizen"), and "Taza Qazaqstan" ("Clean Kazakhstan").
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