The main results of the Densaulyq State Healthcare Development Program

As Birtanov noted, the measures taken in the framework of the implementation of the Densaulyq State Health Development Program for 2016-2019 allowed to improve the basic medical and demographic indicators. Life expectancy was 73.15 years. Total mortality decreased by 2%, maternal mortality — by 13%, infant — by 4%, mortality from tuberculosis — by 41%.

Structural changes have taken place in the healthcare sector, namely, a public health service has been created, the provision of primary health care and ambulance services has been improved, drug provision has been centralized, medical education has been modernized, infrastructure has been improved and healthcare digitalization has been introduced.

“The salary of medical workers was increased by 30%, the deficit of medical workers was reduced 2.7 times. Investments in healthcare increased 2.4 times and reached 147 billion tenge. 469 new medical facilities were commissioned,” the minister informed.

Thanks to digitalization, queues in clinics are reduced by 2 times. All medical organizations have implemented medical information systems.

“In general, the achievement of the goals and objectives within the framework of the State Densaulyk program is noted,” said Birtanov.

Tasks, directions and priorities of the new State Program for Healthcare Development

The new State Health Development Program is designed for 2020-2025.

“The goal of the state program is to develop quality and affordable healthcare. The goal will be achieved by solving three tasks in nine main areas,” the minister said.

The objectives of the program:

1. The formation of the population’s commitment to a healthy lifestyle and the development of public health services.

2. Improving the quality of medical care.

3. Sustainable health system development.

Nine directions of the state program:

people's choice for health;
modern public health service;
comprehensive health care at the PHC level;
human capital development;
improving the provision of medical care;
creating a single digital healthcare space;
implementation of compulsory health insurance and the promotion of voluntary health insurance to achieve universal health coverage;
improving the investment climate in the medical industry;
good governance in healthcare.

The main priorities of the Program:

First, measures to prevent behavioral risk factors and adherence to a healthy lifestyle will be strengthened;

The second is a focus on improving the health of children and adolescents, including the prevention of diseases, the provision of care and full rehabilitation, taking into account international best practices;

Third, raising the status of medical workers by increasing wages, strengthening social support measures, and protecting professional responsibility;

Fourth, a substantial renewal of regional healthcare infrastructure through a program to build a network of modern hospitals of international level until 2025 involving private sector resources, as well as increasing tariffs for medical services and reimbursing investment costs for the construction of large facilities through public-private partnership mechanisms.

As part of the task of creating a commitment to a healthy lifestyle among the population, it is planned to reduce salt intake by 31%, smoking — by 13.6%, alcohol consumption — by 16%.

Coverage of citizens involved in physical education and sports will reach 36%. The incidence of obesity among children will decrease by 8%.

Particular attention will be paid to the quality of food products, the fight against infectious diseases and the reduction of mortality from injuries and accidents.

“As a result, treatment coverage for people with HIV will be increased by 29%, mortality from road accidents will be reduced by 24%, tuberculosis incidence will be reduced by 9%, mortality from unintentional poisoning by 10%,” the minister said.

A separate direction in the program is devoted to the prevention of diseases, with an emphasis on children and adolescents. It is planned to reduce mortality from suicides of adolescents aged 15 to 17 years by 4%.

In the framework of another area of programs — the development of human capital — it is envisaged to improve professional development, develop a market for biomedical research, commercialization, and introduce personalized medicine. It is planned to increase the status of workers through an increase in wages, strengthening measures of social support, protecting professional responsibility. In 2025, the ratio of the average doctor's salary to the average in the economy will exceed 2.5 and amount to 550 thousand tenge; the provision of villages with medical workers will increase by 13%; 2 times increase the number of clinical trials increased.

Also, under the new program, the expansion of pediatric, rehabilitation and other services is planned; improvement of drug supply.

Patient satisfaction with the quality of care will increase to 65%; primary disability will decrease by 2.4%.

The program provides for the further development of information systems, the introduction of business intelligence tools, the development of distance medicine, the introduction of new statistical approaches. Thus, the share of medical organizations with an integration platform will be 90%.

As part of the Sustainable Development of the Health Care System objective, the share of private spending on health will decrease from 39% to 27%.

Funding for primary health care and public health will reach 60% of total spending.

In addition, it provides for the updating of fixed assets, reimbursement of investment costs for the construction of large facilities, and the improvement of tariffs.

On the President’s instructions, the equipment with medical equipment will reach 100%, the depreciation level of buildings of medical organizations will decrease to 38%, the share of private investments from total will increase to 70%, the volume of investments in healthcare will amount to 2.8 trillion tenge.

Thanks to the renewal of infrastructure, a program will be implemented to build a network of modern hospitals until 2025 in accordance with international standards and private sector resources will be attracted to it. In the regions of the country, 19 modern multidisciplinary hospitals will be built. Thus, 50% of the key bed fund will be updated. For these purposes, on December 11, a memorandum was signed between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Expected Results of the New Program

As a result of the implementation of the State program, health care costs per 1 person per year will amount to 279 thousand tenge.

The level of premature mortality from major chronic diseases will decrease to 15.56%, maternal mortality will decrease by 16.7%, infant mortality — by 19.4%. The most significant — the expected life expectancy of citizens will reach 75 years in 2025.

The draft state program is coordinated with the population, with non-governmental and international organizations, with all state bodies and the Presidential Administration.

Also during the meeting, the Chairman of the National Scientific Cardiac Surgery Center Yuri Pya made a report. According to him, such programs advance the healthcare sector far ahead, allowing to attract more investments.

For example, the adopted program for the development of cardiology and cardiac surgery made it possible to open cardiology centers in each region, introduce high technology and, in general, today the problem regarding cardiovascular is being successfully solved.

“Now the moment has come when it will be possible to minimize the gap between our cardiology and cardiac surgery service, which is developed in all regions, and other health services, especially the primary health care service. This assistance should be affordable and highly qualified. I think the development of the cardiology and cardiac surgery service is an example of what it is really possible to do on your own, with your staff,” said Pya.