Kazakhstan Launches Project to Establish Unified Network of Regional Trauma Centers with New Care Model

Kazakhstan's New Trauma Centres Aim to Slash Deaths from Injuries

A new initiative to create a unified network of regional trauma centers (RTCs) with an innovative trauma care model is being rolled out in Kazakhstan. The project, developed by the National Scientific Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics named after Academician Batpenov (NSTO), is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Healthcare, according to the ministry's press service.

Every year, the country records hundreds of thousands of trauma cases, with road accidents remaining one of the leading causes of death. Up to 40% of fatalities occur within the first few hours after injury due to delayed access to specialized care.

The establishment of RTCs aims to address this issue. The centers will operate around the clock, providing a full spectrum of treatment—from emergency care and resuscitation to high-tech surgeries and rehabilitation. This will enable timely medical assistance on-site, eliminating delays caused by patient transport to major cities, the ministry explained.

The RTCs will also serve as regional coordination hubs for trauma services. Doctors will have real-time access to consultations from leading NSTO specialists, telemedicine technologies will be introduced, and medical training programs will be expanded.

A pilot phase is currently underway in Astana, Almaty (based at City Clinical Hospital No. 4), and Balkhash. The network will later be expanded to other regions with high trauma rates, the ministry reported.

The initiative is expected to reduce trauma-related mortality and disability, shorten response times for emergency care, and make advanced medical treatment more accessible to residents outside major cities.

Earlier reports indicated that in 2025, over 51,000 Kazakhs were injured in road accidents, with 2,300 fatalities—a 10% reduction in the death rate. Of nearly 796,000 emergency medical calls for trauma cases, 44,000 (5.6%) were linked to traffic accidents.

Previously, it was announced that road accident fatalities in Kazakhstan had decreased by 10%.