On April 8, the Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the Ministers of Health of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Astana.
The event was attended by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akmaral Alnazarova, Minister of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan Teymur Musayev, Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Erkin Checheibaev, Minister of Health of the Republic of Turkey Kemal Memişoğlu, Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan Asilbek Khudayarov, and the OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.
Representatives of observer countries were also present — Deputy State Secretary of Internal Affairs of Hungary Judit Bidló, Director General of the Directorate of Infectious Disease Centers of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan Annamyrat Rejepov, and Chairman of the OTS Investment Fund Bagdat Amreev.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Minister Akmaral Alnazarova delivered a welcome address, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the unity of the Turkic world and solidarity in the field of healthcare.
OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev highlighted the progress made in implementing the Action Plan adopted in 2023, as well as the important role of the WHO European Regional Office in advancing joint projects.
In her speech, Akmaral Alnazarova focused on progress in digitalization and the development of primary healthcare, sharing Kazakhstan’s experience in implementing best practices at the PHC level.
“To improve the prevention of chronic diseases and prevent their complications, we are significantly expanding the nursing service. The introduction of independent nursing practice helps reduce waiting times for doctors and decreases time spent in polyclinics. The disease management program is aimed at creating a partnership between healthcare workers and patients,” said the Minister.
She emphasized the importance of the two WHO declarations on PHC and urged moving from declarative proposals to real actions.
In this regard, Kazakhstan proposed to declare “2025 as the Year of Primary Health Care in OTS countries,” highlighting the importance of strengthening prevention, early diagnosis, and accessibility of medical services for the population.
“We are united by a common goal to create reliable and sustainable healthcare systems that meet the needs of our citizens. In this regard, the Kazakh initiative to declare 2025 the Year of PHC among OTS countries and global health diplomacy represents a significant step in ensuring regional health security and crisis preparedness in OTS countries,” said the Minister of Health of Uzbekistan in support.
According to the Kazakh Minister, as of July 1, 2024, mandatory labeling and traceability of medicines have been introduced to combat illegal distribution and enable online price control of pharmaceuticals.
In line with the President’s instructions, the share of domestically produced medicines is increasing annually, with a target of reaching 50% by 2029.
Key topics on the forum’s agenda included strengthening cooperation in healthcare, expanding partnerships in medical and pharmaceutical industries, enhancing the role of international organizations, and sharing knowledge and experience among medical experts, scientists, and representatives of educational and scientific institutions.
Participants discussed the importance of implementing digital technologies and integrating AI into healthcare systems.
At the initiative of Kazakhstan, with the support of the OTS Secretariat and member states, a draft Action Plan for 2025–2026 was developed. The Plan outlines areas of cooperation, including technology development and transfer in healthcare, capacity building, medical tourism, medical and pharmaceutical production among Turkic countries, transplantation development, and emergency preparedness of OTS medical services.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a Joint Declaration, emphasizing community interaction, cooperation with international and regional organizations, engagement with non-governmental entities and the private sector, and fostering dialogue between OTS and other relevant international stakeholders.
In the declaration, signatories recognized the vital role of digital health, as technology and innovation have become an integral part of healthcare systems. They agreed to share knowledge and experience in implementing digital health solutions, including electronic prescriptions, in OTS member and observer states.
Additionally, the document proposes the establishment of unified standards for medical education, ensuring continuing medical education, swift adoption of information and communication technologies in healthcare, and cross-border data exchange through the development of unified digital health standards.
Several bilateral meetings were also held on the sidelines of the forum, where agreements were reached on a wide range of healthcare issues, including organizing Kazakhstan Health Days in OTS countries.
During the 5th Meeting of Health Ministers of OTS, memorandums of understanding and cooperation were signed in the fields of medical education and science, biological safety, and emergency medical care.
The event concluded with the approval of the OTS Working Group Action Plan on Health Cooperation for 2025–2026 and the adoption of the Joint Declaration of the 5th Meeting of Health Ministers of the Organization of Turkic States.
The purpose of the OTS is to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic states, create conditions for mutually beneficial relations, unlock shared development potential, and strengthen solidarity among member countries.
Members of OTS: Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Turkey.
Observer countries: Hungary and Turkmenistan. Stay updated with the news on our website: https://ksph.edu.kz/ and Telegram channel Mediclub.
