Free prescription medications in Kazakhstan updated

The list of medications provided free of charge at the outpatient level has been updated in Kazakhstan. Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced during a government meeting that 22 modern drugs targeting 14 medical conditions have been added to the registry. At the same time, 52 medications spanning 26 health conditions were removed from the coverage.

According to the ministry, these removals stem from low patient demand and insufficient therapeutic effectiveness. Currently, around 2.1 million citizens across Kazakhstan access free outpatient medication for 76 conditions, supported by an allocated budget of approximately 245 billion tenge. Additionally, access to insulin pumps and necessary consumables has been expanded for pregnant women and diabetic patients up to 21 years of age.

Since 2025, the share of free medications dispensed via electronic prescriptions through the "Social Wallet" platform has reached 82%. To prevent potential supply shortages, the Ministry of Health launched the procurement process for 2027 three months earlier than in previous years, securing 84% of required supplies by September while increasing buffer stock reserves by 35%. By the end of this year, the Single Distributor's warehouses are projected to store 95% to 100% of the medication volume required for 2027.