Kazakhstan overhauls children's healthcare with a bold hybrid model

Kazakhstan is set to reform its children’s healthcare system with a new hybrid approach. The changes will blend the roles of pediatricians and general practitioners, aiming to improve care efficiency. A trial phase will test the model before wider implementation. The reform will keep the country’s 1,300 pediatric districts intact. Instead of replacing pediatricians, the system will redefine their role. They will now focus on monitoring young children and handling complex medical cases.

General practitioners will take on broader primary care duties, managing routine patient visits. This shift aims to ease pressure on pediatricians while expanding access to care. The Health Ministry also plans to boost training for more general practitioners to support the transition.

To encourage pediatricians, the government will introduce performance-based bonuses. The new model draws on international practices, with a pilot phase testing its effectiveness before full rollout. The reform maintains pediatricians’ roles while integrating general practitioners into children’s healthcare. Incentives and expanded training will support the transition. If successful, the hybrid system could reshape primary care across Kazakhstan’s 13,375 healthcare districts.