Tokayev says Kazakhstan's constitution guarantees free healthcare for citizens and some foreigners

September 19, 2026 at 03:12 PM2 min

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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan's constitution obliges the state to provide a guaranteed volume of free medical care to all citizens, ethnic Kazakh returnees, and certain categories of foreigners permanently residing in the country. He urged the public to compare this constitutional duty with other countries, noting that the state will never abandon its social obligations.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan's constitution contains a separate provision obliging the state to provide a guaranteed volume of free medical care.
Free medical care is provided not only to citizens but also to kandas (ethnic Kazakh returnees) and certain categories of foreigners permanently residing in Kazakhstan.
The guaranteed volume includes visits to district doctors, basic check-ups, diagnosis, emergency care for life-threatening conditions, and treatment of socially significant diseases such as diabetes, oncology, and tuberculosis.
The state also provides medicines for certain patients, ambulance services, and sanitary aviation.
President Tokayev mentioned the fund 'Qazaqstan Halqyna', created on his initiative, which provides significant assistance, especially to children.

Constitutional Guarantee

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan is a social state and that this is not empty words. He emphasized that the state will never abandon its social obligations because this mission is clearly written in the Constitution. Tokayev pointed out that the Basic Law contains a separate provision on the state's duty to provide a guaranteed volume of free medical care. He challenged the audience to find another constitution with such a state obligation, suggesting they look away from TikTok.

Scope of Free Care

Medical care paid from the budget is provided to every citizen of Kazakhstan, as well as to kandas arriving from abroad and certain categories of foreign citizens permanently residing in the country. The guaranteed volume includes visits to district doctors, basic check-ups, diagnosis, emergency care for life-threatening conditions, and treatment of socially significant diseases including diabetes, oncology, and tuberculosis. The state also provides medicines for certain patients, ambulance services, and sanitary aviation. Tokayev recounted that a Kazakh scientist who fell seriously ill in Italy was recently evacuated with urgent assistance.

Qazaqstan Halqyna Fund

President Tokayev separately mentioned the fund 'Qazaqstan Halqyna', created on his proposal and initiative. According to Tokayev, the fund provides serious assistance, especially to children.