Kazakhstan to Open 48 New Specialized Medical Units by 2026

Kazakhstan is set to expand specialized medical care nationwide starting in 2026, with 48 new field-specific units to open in regional hospitals.

The new units will cover cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, pulmonology, rheumatology, and hematology across 17 regions between 2026 and 2028. In total, 906 hospital beds-including 400 for children-will be added to improve access to specialized care, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Next year alone, 25 new units will launch in Ulytau, Kyzylorda, Kostanay, and Zhetysu regions. To support these services, the Ministry is boosting financial sustainability by raising medical tariffs: pulmonology rates increased 75 per cent and rheumatology 24 per cent this year, with cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology set to rise by roughly 50 per cent from January 1, 2026.

These reforms aim to enhance the quality of care, strengthen funding for specialized departments, motivate healthcare workers, and reinforce therapeutic services at regional hospitals. In 2026, total funding for inpatient care will increase by 8 per cent to about 700 billion tenge.

Earlier, the Special State Fund allocated 7.5 billion tenge to modernize healthcare facilities in Karaganda as part of the Rural Healthcare Modernization national project, reflecting Kazakhstan’s broader push to improve healthcare access and infrastructure.