An Assessment of Healthcare Reforms in Kazakhstan

Abstract

This paper examines the state of healthcare development in Kazakhstan since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.The paper uses secondary sources to investigate various healthcare reforms instituted by the Kazakh government. The paper identifies four aspects in the health reform initiatives (funding, quality, human resources, and partnerships) and their impacts on the country’s healthcare system. In light of the healthcare reform efforts, this study finds that the four aspects of the reforms examined have been helpful towards the country’s health system’s modernization efforts. While progress has been made in Kazakhstan’s health system since its independence, this study observes that healthcare reform is a continuous process, especially for a country undergoing transitional challenges. The paper sheds light on the issue of health reform and its impacts on healthcare outcomes, especially in Central Asia.

Keywords: healthcare reform, healthcare systems, Central Asia, Kazakhstan