A Kazakh delegation, led by First Vice Minister of Health Timur Sultangaziev, participated in the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, held under the theme “All for Health, Health for All.”
During the session, Kazakhstan organized a special side event focused on the development of primary health care (PHC). Speaking at the plenary, Sultangaziev emphasized that strengthening PHC is a fundamental element of resilient health systems. He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to universal health coverage principles, rooted in the historic 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration.
He reminded participants of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish a Global Coalition on PHC, first proposed and endorsed by WHO member states at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana. This initiative marked the 45th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration and the 5th anniversary of the Astana Declaration. Kazakhstan is now working with WHO to form the Coalition’s Secretariat to advance its goals globally.
The Coalition aims to create a political platform to accelerate the shift of health systems toward PHC, promote innovation, enable knowledge exchange, and expand access to medical services worldwide.
It will advocate for three core principles of PHC:
- Integrated health services across the life course,
- Multisectoral policies and actions on the determinants of health,
- Empowered individuals and communities as active partners in health.
Through this platform, countries will collaborate, share experiences, and use the WHO Operational Framework for PHC as a foundation for practical reforms and measurable progress.
“For Kazakhstan, developing PHC is not just a priority—it’s a systemic mission,” Sultangaziev stated. “We are implementing national healthcare modernization programs, workforce training, digitalization, and expansion of outpatient services. We are also enhancing the capacity of polyclinics, expanding the role of general practitioners and nurses, and introducing wellness management and disease prevention approaches.”
The WHA also featured discussions on epidemic preparedness, emergency response, digital health, artificial intelligence in medicine, women’s health, and technological innovations.
Kazakhstan invited WHO member states to join the next PHC-focused meeting, scheduled for September 2025 in New York, as part of the UN General Assembly. Stay up to date with our news at https://ksph.edu.kz/ and on our Telegram channel Mediclub.
