(6 January 2026 | Source: Centralmedia24.kz)
The story of a doctor recruited to work in the new city of Alatau in the Almaty region due to a shortage of medical staff has sparked public debate. According to the woman, the conditions of the service accommodation provided to her do not meet what was promised, and the previously guaranteed financial support turned out to be unavailable.
WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID
According to the woman, when she was hired in Alatau, the employers promised her relocation allowance for housing and the provision of a service flat. Accepting these conditions, she agreed to move and began inspecting the proposed housing options.
As the doctor claims, the first flat was in an extremely unsatisfactory condition: the premises contained alcohol bottles, there was no renovation, and the ceiling had partially collapsed. She refused this option. According to her, in response she was told that disabled people and others live in similar flats. She was unable to record the condition of the first flat on video.
VIDEO OF THE SECOND FLAT
The second service flat shown to the doctor was captured on video and posted on social media. The footage shows the unsatisfactory condition of the housing, despite representatives of the employer describing the flat as renovated.
In her statement, the doctor said that such conditions cannot be considered acceptable for a medical professional to live in and expressed doubt about the proper use of budget funds allocated for the renovation of service housing and attracting staff to the regions.
THE ISSUE WITH THE HOUSING PAYMENT
Separately, the woman stated that when she was hired, she was promised a payment of 9.8 million tenge to purchase housing. However, according to her, she was later informed that the relevant programme had been closed after 15 December and is no longer in effect.
It is worth recalling that in September 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his address to the people of Kazakhstan announced the creation of a new, advanced development city — Alatau City, which is intended to become a "centre of business activity and innovation".
The head of state instructed that a draft decree be prepared within ten days to grant the new city special status under the direct authority of the government. He noted the need to adopt a separate law within six months, which will establish the governance regime, the financial model and other key provisions.