In Kazakhstan, spending on the healthcare system has increased 1.5 times over the last three years. During this time, 5.8 trillion tenge was allocated from the state budget.
According to the press service of the Anti-Corruption Agency, in 2021 1.6 trillion tenge was spent on healthcare, in 2022 - 1.7 trillion tenge, and in 2023 - 2.5 trillion tenge.
It is reported that by 2027, the share of healthcare spending in total GDP is planned to be brought to 5% (in 2023 – 3.8%).
At the same time, it emerged that the agency has identified numerous corruption risks in this area.
“Based on the results of the external analysis, corruption risks have been identified at all stages of the circulation of medicines and medical equipment, starting from the process of planning the volume of procurement of medicines and medical devices, their acquisition, to the service maintenance of medical equipment and the conclusion of long-term contracts (offtake contracts) with domestic producers. Facts have been revealed of inflated demand for medicines, inflated costs of purchased goods and services, untimely procurement of vaccines against various diseases, procurement of unneeded equipment, as well as the accrual of unjustified payments”, the statement said.
According to the Anti-Corruption Agency, the reasons for the above facts include insufficient automation of procurement planning mechanisms, imperfect information systems and databases, lack of competition among suppliers, inadequate control, etc.
As it became known, based on the results of the analysis, the Anti-Corruption Agency, together with the Ministry of Health, approved a Roadmap to eliminate the identified corruption risks.