Why salary increases focus on precinct doctors: Alnazarova explains

Kazakhstan is introducing targeted allowances for precinct doctors and primary healthcare specialists to mitigate staff shortages and boost retention. During a press conference at the Government, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova addressed why the new pay raise will not apply equally across all healthcare personnel.

 According to the minister, wages for healthcare professionals have been raised in phases over recent years, with salaries for the majority of specialists increasing 2.5 times since 2020. Starting in 2025, the ministry began step-by-step allowance increases for specific roles based on workforce deficits, high turnover rates, and intense physical and psychological workloads. Emergency medical personnel received pay bumps, and since the start of the year, over 24,000 infectious disease employees have seen higher supplements for working under challenging conditions.

The next phase prioritizes primary medical and sanitary care teams. Alnazarova noted that this sector faces acute staffing deficits, with annual turnover rates among primary healthcare staff reaching up to 50%.

Precinct physicians and nurses carry heavy workloads, combining clinic consultations with home visits and overseeing the overall health of their assigned populations.

"We are introducing a continuous service allowance in primary healthcare to stem staff departures and make the profession more attractive. We plan to address the deficit using these mechanisms," Akmaral Alnazarova stated.

 The minister added that hospital staff already receive various supplementary payments. The new allowance will now also cover social workers and patronage nurses, who were previously excluded from such top-ups.

Alnazarova stressed that the new supplements will not replace existing payments. Base salaries will be calculated first, followed by additions tied to tenure and qualification levels. "Today, the average physician's salary matches the national average wage across the economy. Our objective is to progressively raise it above that national benchmark," the minister said. Under the planned measures, additional payments are set to take effect on January 1, covering 77,000 precinct service workers.