Overview
| Overview | 2006 | 2007 | 2008(estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market Size | 309 | 490 | 811 |
| Total Local Production | 13 | 13.4 | 14 |
| Total Exports | 4 | 3.5 | 3.1 |
| Total Imports | 300 | 480 | 800 |
| Imports from the U.S. | 22 | 26 | 31 |
In USD Million; Note: the above statistics are unofficial estimate based on Kazakhstan customs data and industry sources.
Best Products and Services
The best sales potential for U.S. medical equipment is expected to be in the following areas: electro-medical diagnostic and therapy equipment, diagnostic imaging with a special emphasis on X-ray equipment and supplies, surgical supplies, equipment for cardio surgery, dental equipment and supplies, laboratory equipment and test kits including HIV/AIDS blood testing sets.
Opportunities
In 2006, the government developed a program for further development of cardiologic health services and cardio-vascular surgery for 2007-2009. Stages of the program include creating thirteen cardio-vascular surgery divisions and four regional cardio centers, and training over 200 specialists in cardio-surgery at leading foreign cardio centers. There is a large-scale construction of medical facilities in Astana, including a diagnostic center, children’s outpatient polyclinic, a maternity hospital, prenatal center development, city ambulatory center, and medical research center.
To solve the problems of mother and child health, a range of projects aimed at improving obstetrics and childcare was also introduced. In particular, activities on prenatal aid for 2004-2010 were developed on the basis of recommendations from the World Health Organization. Equipping of child and obstetrics hospitals with modern medical instruments is one of the priority tasks of the goverment.
In 2007, President Nazarbayev directed the government to develop a program named “Building a Hundred Medical Facilities”, to be implemented by state-owned and private medical institutions. Emphasis will be placed on multi-purpose clinics intended to provide a wide range of medical services. According to the program, construction on a number of regional hospitals, clinics and blood centers will start in 2008. Building of municipal clinics and hospitals, as well as university clinics, is planned in 2009.
The Ministry of Health continues to work on the introduction of telemedicine and mobile medicine in the rural regions of the country. The goal of the project is an improvement of diagnostics and treatment in rural hospitals, improved access to quality healthcare for rural citizens, and further professional development of medical personnel.
In January 2008 the World Bank’s Board approved a $117.7 million loan for the Kazakhstan Health Sector Technology Transfer and Institutional Reform Project. The total Project cost is $296 million, with $178.4 million being co-financed by the GOK. The project will help introduce international standards and build long-term institutional capacity in the Ministry of Health and related healthcare institutions in support of key health sector reforms pursued by the government. The project components include:
- Health Information System Development ($188.6 million)
- Health Care Quality Improvement ($59.9 million)
- Health Financing and Management ($20.2 million)
- Reform of Medical Education and Medical Science ($9.4 million)
- Food Safety and WTO Accession ($8.7 million)
- Project Management ($4.6 million)
- Pharmaceutical Policy Reform ($4.2 million).