The fastest-growing sources of medical tourists have been India and China, with patient numbers rising 40-fold and 24-fold respectively since 2020. Visitors from Türkiye have tripled, and the Ministry of Healthcare reports that patients now come from around 50 countries. The Kazakhstan Medical Tourism Association predicts that continued growth will be driven by expanded access to AI diagnostics and telemedicine.
Affordable, High-Quality Care
Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said the country’s medical cluster attracts patients due to relatively low treatment costs and adherence to European clinical standards. Diagnostic procedures and surgeries can cost five to ten times less than in the United States or Europe, she noted.
Nine clinics in Kazakhstan have received accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI), widely regarded as the gold standard in healthcare quality and patient safety. Key facilities include the National Centre for Neurosurgery, which performs complex brain and spinal operations and operates the region’s only Gamma Knife system, and the Cardiac Surgery Centre, a regional leader in emergency cardiac care. The National Center for Maternal and Child Health also provides specialized care for pediatric and oncohematological conditions.
European visitors, in particular, are drawn to services such as in vitro fertilization, high-tech dental procedures, and other advanced treatments, combining affordability with internationally recognized standards.
Pioneering Cancer Treatment
Kazakhstan has significantly expanded its oncology capabilities in recent years, opening six radiotherapy centers, 19 endoscopy units, and modernizing 17 oncology facilities. Last year, the country introduced proton therapy, a highly precise radiation treatment that minimizes damage to surrounding tissue, making Kazakhstan the first nation in Central Asia and the 25th globally to offer the technology.
The proton therapy unit at the National Research Oncology Centre can treat up to 1,000 patients annually, using the ProBeam 360 system with technologies developed in Sweden and the U.S. Among the first patients is Gulnara Shakenova, who described the procedure as “completely painless” and life-changing. The centre is also seeking to become a regional training hub for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in nuclear medicine.
A Growing Innovation and Research Hub
Kazakhstan is aiming to become a medical innovation hub within five years, according to Adlet Tabarov, deputy chair of the Salidat Kairbekova National Scientific Center for Healthcare Development. The country is building a full-cycle medical innovation ecosystem, linking research, preclinical testing, clinical pilots, and local production.
Recent developments include a modern vivarium at the Nazarbayev University research cluster, enabling in-country preclinical studies that reduce costs and risks for investors. One notable pilot project is Cerebra AI, a stroke-detection system currently deployed in 17 stroke centres in Kazakhstan and hospitals in Uzbekistan. The system can detect strokes within minutes, crucial for improving survival outcomes, and has attracted investment from Singapore-based Quest Ventures.
Investment in Health Technology
Kazakhstan has emerged as a leading destination for venture capital in Central Asia. In 2024, startups in the country attracted €65 million in funding, accounting for 74% of all venture capital deals in the region. Health technology is among the fastest-growing sectors, with investments increasingly coming from hybrid models that combine corporate funding, joint R&D, and technology-transfer partnerships.
With internationally accredited clinics, competitive pricing, high-tech treatments like proton therapy, and a growing medical innovation ecosystem, Kazakhstan is emerging as a key destination for healthcare and medical tourism in the region.