Traumatology and orthopedics remain among the most in-demand areas of medical care in Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, around 3 million people receive consultative care in polyclinics, hospitals, and trauma centers each year. At the same time, within the guaranteed volume of free medical care (GOBMP) and compulsory social health insurance (OSMS), more than 130 thousand operations are performed annually — both emergency and planned. For patients, this means that a significant portion of traumatology and orthopedic care is covered by state guarantees and insurance mechanisms.
What happened
The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported that the country maintains a stable volume of high-tech medical care in the field of traumatology and orthopedics. More than 130 thousand operations per year are performed under GOBMP and OSMS, covering a wide range of interventions — from care for fractures and injuries to planned operations.
The dynamics of joint replacement surgery are highlighted separately: over the past five years, the volume of such operations has grown by almost 50%. Joint replacement is the replacement of a damaged joint (most often the hip or knee) with an artificial one. A growth of almost one and a half times indicates that high-tech orthopedic care is becoming more accessible to the population thanks to state guarantees.
Who this concerns
This topic directly affects several groups of patients:
- People who have suffered injuries — fractures, dislocations, damage to joints and ligaments that require emergency or planned surgery.
- Patients with joint diseases — those who may be prescribed joint replacement surgery based on medical indications.
- Elderly people, for whom timely orthopedic care is especially important for maintaining mobility and quality of life.
- Working citizens and their employers, since access to part of planned care is tied to participation in the OSMS system.
How OSMS and access to care are connected
In Kazakhstan, medical care is provided through two mechanisms. Emergency care — including for injuries — is provided to everyone regardless of insurance status. Planned care, however, is largely tied to participation in the compulsory social health insurance system.
To be eligible for planned care under OSMS, it is important to be insured: for hired employees, contributions are transferred by the employer, individual entrepreneurs and self-employed persons pay for themselves, and for certain preferential categories of citizens, contributions are made by the state. It is precisely the stable financing of the system that allows maintaining the volume of operations and developing high-tech areas such as joint replacement.
What a patient should do
If you or your loved ones may need traumatology or orthopedic care, it is worth understanding the basic steps in advance:
- Check your insurance status. Make sure that you are insured under OSMS — this can be done through the official services of the Social Health Insurance Fund or the e-government portal.
- Contact the polyclinic where you are attached. Planned care usually begins with a doctor's appointment and referral to a specialist.
- Find out whether the procedure you need is included in GOBMP or OSMS. The list of services is determined by the state, and some operations are covered by guarantees.
- In case of injury — do not delay seeking help. Emergency care is provided regardless of insurance status.
Frequently asked questions
How many traumatology and orthopedic operations are performed in Kazakhstan annually? — According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, more than 130 thousand operations are performed annually under GOBMP and OSMS, including emergency and planned interventions.
Is traumatology surgery paid for by the state? — A significant part of care is covered by state guarantees (GOBMP) and compulsory social health insurance (OSMS); the specific list of services is determined by the state.
What is joint replacement surgery, and has it become more accessible? — This is an operation to replace a damaged joint with an artificial one. Over the past five years, the volume of joint replacement surgery in the country has grown by almost 50%, indicating increased accessibility of such care.
Do you need to be insured under OSMS to receive care for an injury? — Emergency care for injuries is provided to everyone regardless of insurance status, while access to part of planned care is tied to participation in the OSMS system.
How can I check my status in the OSMS system? — Your status can be checked through the official services of the Social Health Insurance Fund or the e-government portal.