Lecture-Seminar "Architecture of Sustainable Healthcare: UHC, Global Challenges and Opportunities for Kazakhstan"

On March 18, 2026, an expert lecture-seminar dedicated to the strategic issues of building a sustainable healthcare system was held at the Department of "Public Health and Healthcare". The keynote speaker was Yelzhan Amandyevich Birtanov - Doctor of Medical Sciences, a renowned expert in the field of medical digitalization and strategic advisor to "KMG Group". At the center of attention was the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which was defined not as a social burden, but as a critical investment in the country's economy and national security. During the presentation, the results of Kazakhstan's progress over the past decade were presented. According to the report data, from 2015 to 2026, the UHC index in the country grew from 68 to 77 points, while the share of population's "out-of-pocket" expenses decreased from 44% to 26%. However, as the speaker noted, to achieve the UN's target indicators by 2030 (index >80, expenses <20%), the system needs to address a number of structural challenges, including population aging, the growth of chronic diseases, and dependence on payroll taxes. Based on the seminar results, four strategic priorities for further development of the sector were formulated: diversification of the revenue base through general taxes and excises, shifting the paradigm from treatment to prevention, introducing health technology assessment as a value filter, as well as developing digital systems and predictive analytics. The expert emphasized that Kazakhstan has all the resources to turn global challenges into a national advantage, making the transition from the outdated fee-for-service model to value-based healthcare.