Kazakhstan Health Ministry mandates infection audits in all hospitals

September 1, 2026 at 12:51 PM2 min

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Kazakhstan's Health Ministry has drafted rules making internal infection audits mandatory for all medical organizations, regardless of ownership. The draft order is undergoing approval and state registration. The move follows a 1.41-fold rise in registered healthcare-associated infections in 2025 compared to 2024.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan's Health Ministry has drafted an order making internal infection audits mandatory for all medical organizations, including private clinics.
Registered healthcare-associated infections in Kazakhstan rose 1.41-fold in 2025 compared to 2024, with the highest numbers in maternity facilities.
The World Health Organization reports that about one in ten patients worldwide acquires an infection during medical care, with 1.4 million people treated for such infections at any given time.
Audits will cover hand hygiene, asepsis, sterilization, personal protective equipment, infection prevention in high-risk departments, medical waste handling, and staff training.
If violations are found, the infection prevention commission must develop corrective measures, set deadlines, and assign responsible staff.

Draft Order

The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan has prepared a draft order titled 'On Approval of the Rules for Conducting Internal Infection Audit'. The document is currently undergoing approval and state registration. Once adopted, the rules will make internal infection audits a mandatory component of the infection control system in all medical organizations, regardless of ownership form. The audit's stated purpose is not only to identify consequences of violations but also to prevent infection risks, eliminate their causes, and avoid repeat cases.

Infection Statistics

According to the Ministry of Health, the registration rate of healthcare-associated infections in Kazakhstan increased 1.41-fold in 2025 compared to 2024. The highest number of cases is recorded in maternity organizations, where purulent-septic infections predominate. World Health Organization data cited by the ministry indicates that approximately one in ten patients worldwide encounters an infection while receiving medical care. About 1.4 million people are simultaneously undergoing treatment for healthcare-associated infections globally.

Audit Scope

The new rules require systematic verification of specific processes within medical organizations. Audits will assess staff hand hygiene, aseptic and antiseptic practices, quality of disinfection and sterilization of medical devices, use of personal protective equipment, infection prevention in surgical and other high-risk departments, safety of medical procedures, medical waste management, and staff training on infection safety. The frequency of audits will depend on the institution's profile, epidemiological situation, and results of previous checks. Unscheduled audits are planned when additional epidemiological risks emerge. If the infection prevention commission identifies violations, it must develop corrective measures, set deadlines for their implementation, and designate responsible employees.