On June 24, 2025, a briefing dedicated to medical education was held at the Central Communications Service under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. First Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Timur Sultangaziev, spoke about key directions in state policy regarding the training of medical personnel.

According to the Ministry of Health, Kazakhstan annually allocates over 5,000 educational grants for medical universities. Since 2023, the state educational order has been formed based on the needs of each region, allowing for more effective workforce planning. Graduates are assigned to work in the region linked to their grant.

In 2025, 2,500 grants were allocated for residency programs, distributed in accordance with regional demand. The Ministry is also working on differentiating the value of educational grants, including options to increase funding per student. A gradual reduction of paid admissions is planned, in parallel with an expansion of grant-based placements.

The Ministry is also considering the introduction of targeted internship programs, where graduates would be obligated to work in rural areas and outpatient clinics.

To address the shortage of pediatric specialists in the regions, 14 new pediatric residency specialties are being introduced, including pediatric cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, and others.

According to Sultangaziev, more than 11,000 young specialists in the healthcare field are expected to graduate in 2025. Approximately two-thirds of medical graduates will be employed in healthcare organizations in line with regional staffing needs.

Special attention is being paid to advanced training for university teaching staff and increasing student scholarships. On average, scholarship amounts are growing by 20% annually. Starting this year, a mandatory examination after the third year has been introduced to assess students’ basic knowledge and guide further learning.

Source: Central Communications Service under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan