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Kazakhstan's Union of Disinfectors has penned an open letter to the Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova, demanding that a state-owned enterprise cease its operations in the commercial disinfection market. Business representatives argue that the National Center for Expertise (NCE) RSE, which falls under the sanitary-epidemiological control system, is unfairly leveraging its position to offer paid services in disinfection, disinsection, and deratization, creating a conflict of interest.

State Entity as Regulator and Competitor

The core of the complaint lies in the NCE's dual role: acting as both a regulatory body and a direct competitor in the commercial sector. Entrepreneurs contend that this setup allows the state to control the industry while simultaneously profiting from it, effectively hindering private businesses.

Past Rulings and Evolving Circumstances

This is not the first time the NCE's commercial activities have faced scrutiny. Previously, the Agency for the Protection of Competition and Development issued a directive for the NCE to remove commercial services from its charter. While the matter went to court, the Supreme Court overturned these decisions in early 2025, citing a shortage of licensed organizations. However, business owners argue that the market landscape has changed, rendering these past justifications obsolete.

Entrepreneurs Voice Concerns

The open letter highlights the perceived inequality: "From a business perspective, it is very clear: the state, while controlling the industry, is making money without allowing private businesses to profit in that same sector. No matter how much this is explained as being in the 'public interest,' entrepreneurs see something else – inequality. Society is also beginning to understand this. It is unacceptable to impose strict rules on businesses while simultaneously granting a quasi-state enterprise the right to take over this market."

Antitrust Agency's Perceived Inaction

Despite numerous appeals from entrepreneurs and clear evidence of the quasi-state enterprise's market dominance, the Agency for the Protection of Competition and Development has been criticized for its lack of decisive action. The Union points out that the antitrust body has the right to appeal court decisions to the prosecutor's office if such rulings negatively impact the competitive environment.

Market Dynamics and Existing Players

Currently, approximately 300 licensed private companies operate in Kazakhstan's disinfection, disinsection, and deratization sector. While the market is established, the Union argues that the state continues to dominate by exploiting administrative and infrastructural advantages, with the antitrust agency remaining largely indifferent.

Demands for a Level Playing Field

The business community is calling for a reassessment of the market for preventive disinfection, disinsection, and deratization services. They urge the implementation of measures to limit the participation of quasi-state entities in this economic sector, aligning with the principles of developing a competitive environment.

NCE's Extensive Operations

The NCE has been operating for nearly 11 years and holds a significant number of disinfection contracts across the country, with over a thousand state contracts. These include disinfection services, laboratory research, and medical examinations for employees, among other paid services. For instance, in 2026, the company secured major state contracts in East Kazakhstan (1.1 billion tenge, with 182 million for disinfection), Karaganda (1.4 billion total, 90 million for disinfection), and Almaty (1.5 billion total, 226 million for disinfection services).

The state enterprise's revenue reportedly runs into tens of billions of tenge, primarily through single-source procurement methods, which the Union of Disinfectors deems a violation of competition rules.

"We ask you to consider the issue of stopping the participation of the NCE RSE in the commercial segment of preventive disinfection, disinsection, and deratization," the disinfectors stated. "We consider it correct and fair for the NCE to focus on its state functions – laboratory, expert, and sanitary-epidemiological services within the framework of state orders and healthcare system objectives."

The Union believes the commercial market for preventive services should be left to the established, licensed private sector, which is capable of meeting public demand.