World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev's efforts to develop Kazakhstan's healthcare system, infohub.kz reports.
In a post on his Facebook page, the WHO chief said he highly values the head of state's commitment to raising the salaries of 77,000 healthcare workers in Kazakhstan, and to putting people's health and well-being at the center of national policy.
"By investing in primary health care, empowering general practitioners and supporting health workers, Kazakhstan is demonstrating how political leadership can lead to better and more accessible health services for all," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
He added that nearly 50 years ago Kazakhstan contributed to shaping the global concept of "Health for All" by adopting the Alma-Ata Declaration.
"Ahead of its 50th anniversary, which will be marked in 2028, Kazakhstan continues to serve as an important example of how this concept is being put into practice. Political commitment to health matters greatly. Thank you, Kazakhstan, for showing the way!" the WHO chief wrote.
Recall that on October 28, Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, delivering his address to the people of Kazakhstan, instructed that the powers of general practitioners be expanded and that their salaries be raised from January 1, 2027, by up to 40% depending on continuous service. According to the head of state, this will increase the incomes of more than 77,000 specialists.
The Ministry of Health said that after this, the salaries of district doctors could reach 760,000 tenge.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed that spending on raising healthcare workers' salaries from 2027 be provided for in the three-year budget.