Kazakhstan shifts state spending to digital control, saving billions in healthcare and schools
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Kazakhstan's government reported that new digital anti-fraud mechanisms prevented over 4 billion tenge in unjustified payments in the mandatory social health insurance system in the first half of 2026. The Qalqan platform, piloted in Astana across 207 clinics, now handles payment for 20 of 92 medical service types. A separate digital service for private schools, OrtaBilim, saved 8 billion tenge over four months.
Key Facts
- Anti-fraud mechanisms in the mandatory social health insurance system identified defects worth over 4 billion tenge in the first half of 2026 before funds were transferred to medical organizations.
- The Qalqan digital platform is being piloted in Astana with 207 clinics, processing payment for 20 of 92 medical service types and testing another 60.
- The OrtaBilim digital service for private schools saved 8 billion tenge over four months by automating per-capita funding calculations.
- Digital verification identified 145 private schools located in buildings not designated for educational use, with a state order volume of 38 billion tenge.
- From January 1, 2027, state funding will cease for private schools whose buildings lack the designated purpose for educational activities.
Healthcare Payment Reform
The Social Health Insurance Fund was transferred to the Ministry of Finance in January 2026, and reform began in February to improve fund management and financial discipline. The Qalqan platform unifies planning, procurement, control, and payment of medical services into a single digital circuit. In the Astana pilot, 207 clinics are connected, with payment already processed for 20 of 92 medical service types and testing underway for another 60. All declared medical service types are planned to be transferred to industrial operation by the end of the year. Patients can now confirm visits to medical organizations via a QR code in eGov Mobile, with plans to extend this to second-tier bank applications.
Private School Funding Control
The OrtaBilim service, launched in autumn 2025, moved per-capita funding for private schools to the Ministry of Finance's e-Qazyna platform. Funding amounts are automatically calculated based on student numbers, learning conditions, and established norms, with real-time data verification through integration with systems like Kündelik. As of the reporting period, 899 private schools are digitized on the platform, and the operator paid acts for 749 schools totaling 102.9 billion tenge from January to May 2026. Digital verification identified 145 private schools in buildings not intended for education, including cottages, offices, and former production facilities, with a state order volume of 38 billion tenge. From January 1, 2027, state funding will be discontinued for private schools whose buildings do not meet the designated purpose for educational activities, giving owners time to bring facilities into compliance.
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Kazakhstan shifts state spending to digital control, saving billions in healthcare and schools
