Kazakhstan audit finds 996 dead patients billed for medical services

September 14, 2026 at 09:01 AM2 min

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Kazakhstan's Finance Ministry reported widespread fictitious medical claims in the mandatory social health insurance system, including services billed for 996 deceased patients. The audit also found a doctor in Astana who recorded 4,832 patient visits in one month and 11,123 cervical cancer screenings for men in one district hospital.

Key Facts

The Finance Ministry audit found services billed for 996 deceased patients in the mandatory social health insurance system.
A private clinic doctor in Astana recorded 4,832 patient visits in one month, and a colleague logged nearly 1,500 consultations in a single day.
More than 768,000 men underwent cervical cancer screening, including 11,123 such screenings in one district hospital in Almaty Region.
The audit identified 70,000 fictitious drug prescriptions for children and 3,000 drug write-offs for a single patient in one day.

Audit Findings

Finance Minister Madi Takiyev announced the results of a large-scale audit of the Social Health Insurance Fund in January 2026. The audit uncovered numerous violations, including a private clinic doctor in Astana who recorded 4,832 patient visits in one month. A colleague of that doctor logged nearly 1,500 consultations in a single working day. More than 768,000 Kazakhstani men underwent cervical cancer screening, with 11,123 such screenings identified in one district hospital in Almaty Region. The audit also found 70,000 fictitious drug prescriptions for children and 3,000 drug write-offs for a single patient in one day.

Systemic Violations

Tens of thousands of fictitious cases were identified in the attachment of citizens to polyclinics. The most serious finding was the provision of medical services to 996 deceased patients. One record showed a 2025 appointment for a man who had died two years earlier. The Social Health Insurance Fund stated that payment is not made solely on the basis of a record in medical information systems such as Damumed. The Fund applies format-logical and automated controls to verify the correctness and completeness of data, compliance with contract terms, and to identify duplicate or non-compliant records.