Kazakhstan is changing its approach to medical education: the number of places in medical universities and colleges will be set according to the actual demand for specialists in each region, reports infohub.kz.
A draft order by the Ministry of Health, “On Approval of Rules for Determining the Need for Healthcare Personnel and the Volume of Admission to Medical Specialties,” has been published on the Open NPA portal and is open for discussion until August 3.
The new mechanism introduces a shift to a system of personnel planning where state educational orders will be based on healthcare demand forecasts. According to the Ministry, one of the sector’s main problems today is the uneven distribution of medical workers: some regions face shortages, while others have different staffing loads.
Under the draft, calculations will consider population size and structure, morbidity rates, current medical staffing levels, development of hospitals and clinics, and projected changes in healthcare needs. These data will be used annually to determine how many doctors and medical specialists the country requires, which regions lack personnel, which medical fields need increased or adjusted enrollment, and how many training places should be created.
The Ministry emphasizes that the new approach does not mean reducing doctor training. Its goal is to make education more targeted, so that specialists are trained in fields where their skills are needed. Special attention will be given to areas with medical worker shortages. More precise planning is expected to improve personnel distribution and increase access to medical care for the population.