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Kazakhstan Health Technology Transfer and Institutional Reform Project
Background
 Kazakhstan
inherited from the Soviet Union a health system based on outdated norms and
practices, delivered through an oversized network of state health facilities,
managed through direct control, and with few incentives for improved efficiency
or quality of services. In 2004, there were more than 8,000 health facilities,
including 1,666 public outpatient facilities, 1,101 private outpatient
facilities, 894 public hospitals, and 148 private clinics. The distribution of
health facilities and provision of health services varies significantly across
regions.
The Government of Kazakhstan has recognized that health care is not delivered at
a level that meets international standards. The Ministry of Health identified
several factors that are contributing to the poor quality of the health system,
including: outdated Soviet-era medical curriculum and methods for teaching; a
rudimentary system of continuing medical education; a quality control system
based on punitive external oversight that results in defensiveness and low
transparency; a lack of a modern accreditation system for health facilities;
limited use of quality management methods in hospitals; limited use of
evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; and limited capacity for evidence
based medicine, including the capacity to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of
health care technologies.
It is widely recognized that the current system is in need of restructuring and
reform.
Overview
The Kazakhstan Health Technology Transfer and Institutional Reform Project is an
initiative being co-financed by the Government of Kazakhstan and the World Bank.
The project has several components and is to be implemented until 2013. Its
objective is to introduce international standards and build long-term
institutional capacity in the Ministry of Health (MOH) and related health
institutions in support of key health sector reforms in the following areas:
• Health Policy and Financing
• Health Management
• Clinical Practice Based on Evidence
• Accreditation of Health Facilities
• Laboratory and Blood Services
• Medical Education
• Health Research
• Health Information Systems
• Pharmaceuticals
• Food Safety
The fundamental approach of the project is to build capacity in Kazakh
institutions and improve their performance. For each of the project components,
a twinning arrangement is being established between a highly capable external
partner and relevant Kazakh institutions. Under these twinning arrangements, the
external partner will provide technical support and knowledge transfer to the
Kazakh counterparts.
CSIH in Kazakhstan
ProjectsCSIH has been selected as the
Twinning Partner to implement the following three components of the Kazakhstan
Health Technology Transfer and Institutional Reform Project:
1)
Health Accreditation System
Improvement
2) Upgrading Clinical Practice and
Medical Services Standardization Based on Evidence-Based Medicine and Health
Technology Assessment
3) Improvement of Medical Education
Study Tours
Given the similarity of Canada and Kazakhstan in
terms of administration, geography, population density and remoteness of
communities, Kazakhstan health specialists are interested in studying Canadian
experience in health system delivery, planning, financing, health information
and health research. At the request of the Ministry of Health and World Bank
Kazakhstan, as specific activities under the KHSTTIR Project, CSIH organized
five study tours to Canada in 2009 and 2010:
1.
Health Informatics Study Tour
2. Health Financing Study Tour
3. Health Policy Study Tour for
High-Level Government Officials
4. Health Research and Health Research
Management Study Tour
5. Ministry of Health Senior Civil
Service Study Tour
The general objective of the above study tours was to provide health officials
and practitioners from Kazakhstan with an understanding of Canada’s health
system. In addition, each study tour had its own objectives and was tailored to
meet specific needs of the health specialists from Kazakhstan.
From CSIH's perspective, all groups from Kazakhstan were enthusiastic about
participating in the study tours, meetings and discussions with their Canadian
colleagues. The Canadian organizations with whom the delegations met were
pleased to have the opportunity to exchange information and ideas with their
counterparts from Kazakhstan and to establish professional collaboration.
 CSIH Office in Kazakhstan
CSIH has established an office in the city of
Astana in order to carry out the implementation of these projects.
CSIH Kazakhstan Office
29 Sagynak Str., Office 1015-1018
Astana, Kazakhstan
Tel: +7 717-279-0720
For more information about CSIH’s work in
Kazakhstan, please contact:
Eva Slawecki, Project Director (Ottawa):
eslawecki@csih.org
Arman Issina, Project Coordinator (Astana):
a.issina@yahoo.com
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