Kazakhstan Health Ministry drafts reform of pathology service with advanced diagnostics
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Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health has published a draft order to overhaul the pathology service, introducing advanced diagnostic methods such as immunohistochemistry and molecular genetics. The proposal aims to improve accuracy and enable personalized cancer treatment. Public discussion of the document remains open until August 11, 2026.
Modern Diagnostic Methods
The draft order adds four techniques to the pathology toolkit: immunohistochemistry, FISH tests, molecular genetics, and digital microscopy. According to the explanatory note, these will provide more precise morphological diagnosis and a personalized approach to treatment, primarily for cancer patients. The ministry expects the changes to raise the quality and reliability of morphological studies.
Reference Centers and Staffing
A network of reference centers will be formally established to oversee external quality control in pathology, as outlined in the draft. The document updates staffing norms by defining requirements for cytologists (cytopathologists) and setting physician and nurse ratios based on test volumes, though specific figures were not disclosed. Organizations of any ownership form with a license for “Pathological Anatomy” will be eligible to conduct diagnostics.
What's Next
The draft order will be discussed publicly on the Open NPA portal until August 11, 2026. It remains unclear when the final version will be adopted and whether it will fully meet the staffing and technology needs outlined by the ministry.
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Kazakhstan Health Ministry drafts reform of pathology service with advanced diagnostics
