18 Million Kazakhs Insured Under OSMS, Yet 86% Abandon Treatment Over Wait Times

October 3, 2026 at 12:59 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Nearly 18 million Kazakhstanis are insured under the mandatory social health insurance system (OSMS), but 86% of patients abandon treatment after failing to get timely appointments. Auditors have uncovered fictitious claims and services billed for deceased patients, while primary care clinics are overwhelmed only on paper. The Ministry of Finance audit and former vice-minister of health attribute the crisis to fragmented IT systems.

Key Facts

86% of patients abandon treatment after failing to secure timely appointments, according to Atameken Business.
A Ministry of Finance audit in early 2026 uncovered fictitious claims, services billed for deceased patients, and double financing.
Emergency hospitalizations exceed 65% of all hospitalizations because primary care cannot provide adequate service, says economist Marat Kairlenov.
The cost difference between a primary care visit and one treated hospital case is 70-fold, according to Kairlenov.
Former Vice-Minister of Health proposes SMS identification as the most effective way to eliminate fictitious visits, citing a drop from 100,000 to 40,000 visits after implementation.

Patient Wait Times

A 69-year-old Astana resident with diabetes, hypertension, and heart problems must wait at least ten days for an appointment with a specialist to renew his prescription. While waiting for a referral, he suffered an attack and had to call an ambulance, which he has done twice. Patients routinely wait seven working days just to get a ticket to a therapist for basic tests or a referral to a specialist.

Systemic Failures

Analysts say OSMS has turned doctors into dispatchers, and clinics profit from generating referrals while patients drop out. The Ministry of Finance audit found fictitious claims, services for deceased patients, and double financing. Former Vice-Minister of Health blames fragmented IT systems for the overload that exists only on paper. SMS identification is proposed as the most effective solution, with a pilot showing a drop from 100,000 to 40,000 visits.