Long queues for diagnostic services within the compulsory social medical insurance (CSMI) system persist in Kazakhstan. Nurlan Auyesbayev, a Majilis deputy, stated that patients often wait weeks or even months for examinations, and current CSMI rules limit citizens' access to timely medical care. He sent a parliamentary request to the Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova.
According to Informburo.kz, the Majilis member reported that the CSMI system was created as a mechanism to improve the accessibility and quality of medical care. However, over the last three years, the cost of healthcare services has increased approximately 2.8 times, while accessibility and quality have decreased by nearly 47%. He noted that one of the most frequent complaints from patients is the artificial limitation of the volume of services included in the CSMI package.
Auyesbayev referred to numerous appeals from citizens and representatives of the medical community, who reported difficulties in booking consultations, laboratory tests, and diagnostic procedures.
The deputy cited examples where patients are forced to wait several weeks or even months for examinations. He emphasised that the results of such examinations are valid for no more than 10 days, and if a medical organisation does not carry out the examination within this period, the Social Medical Insurance Fund (SMIF) can fine it. In his words, this approach raises questions about the fairness and effectiveness of regulation.
Auyesbayev also stated that some medical organisations, despite having the resources to provide services in a timely manner, deliberately drag out the process.
According to him, this forces patients to turn to private clinics or go through lengthy bureaucratic procedures. He added that such situations create difficulties for both patients and the doctors themselves.
In Auyesbayev's assessment, the systematic restriction of consultative and diagnostic services reduces the quality of medical care and increases the risk of late detection of serious and infectious diseases. He believes that this situation undermines public trust in the CSMI system.
In this regard, the Majilis member proposed:
- switching to payment for medical services based on the principle 'service provided – service paid';
- ensuring timely financing to pay off the debts of medical organisations;
- strengthening digitalisation and integration of medical information systems;
- allowing the transfer of a patient to another medical facility if the designated clinic has not provided the service within ten days;
- providing for the possibility of treatment in private clinics with subsequent reimbursement of costs from the SMIF if the service cannot be obtained in a public hospital.