Medical exams for Kazakhstani schoolchildren to be changed - what's new in the checkups
Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan is updating the procedure for school preventative medical examinations. The changes are currently in the approval stage, but implementation is expected to begin in the near future. A Tengrinews correspondent looked into exactly how children’s health will be monitored under the new system.
What is changing in school medical check-ups
The Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan has developed a draft order introducing new rules for preventative medical examinations for preschool and school-age children, as well as students in technical, vocational, post-secondary, and higher education institutions.
The changes were prompted by a statement from Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova, who noted that the current system of preventative check-ups and school medicine remains inefficient and performative, focusing more on the volume of examinations rather than the quality of diagnostics.
In response to an official inquiry from our editorial office, the ministry explained that the new approach provides for a clearer distribution of screenings based on the child’s age, health risks, and developmental stages.
The Ministry of Healthcare plans to:
Adjust the frequency of preventative examinations based on age, health risks, the national vaccination schedule, and developmental milestones;
Transfer some responsibilities of specialist doctors for children aged 6 to 18 to nurses;
Introduce unified health assessment checklists to ensure screenings follow a single standard and allow doctors to detect abnormalities early;
Utilize digital diagnostic equipment;
Apply a unified algorithm for follow-up care if a disease or risk factors are detected;
Include standardized assessments of sexual and reproductive development in medical examinations.
One of the changes concerns the equipment used during school preventative check-ups.
The department proposes adding pulse oximetry — a simple, non-invasive method for early detection of cardiovascular and respiratory issues.
At the same time, Electroencephalography (EEG — a method for monitoring brain activity) is to be removed from mass preventative examinations.
"Since it is a specialized procedure, it should be conducted based on clinical indications," the ministry explained.
No remote medical examinations
The Ministry of Healthcare emphasized that the new project does not provide for remote preventative medical check-ups.
"The final decision is made by a pediatrician or a general practitioner. If a risk of pathology is identified, the child will be referred to specialists for further examination," the ministry noted.
The new procedure is planned for nationwide implementation across Kazakhstan.
Once the new system is in place, parents will be able to receive notifications about check-ups and their results through existing digital medical services and mobile applications linked to state healthcare systems.
When the new rules take effect
According to the Ministry of Healthcare, the draft order has not yet entered into force and is currently undergoing the legal approval process.
However, Akmaral Alnazarova previously ordered the phased implementation of the updated format to begin as early as September 1, 2026.
The effectiveness of these changes will be evaluated based on several indicators:
Coverage of children by medical examinations;
Quality of screenings;
Number of early detection cases;
Timeliness of specialist referrals and results of follow-up monitoring.
As a reminder, starting August 25, drivers over the age of 65 will be required to undergo a medical commission every two years. For more details on the cost of driver medical exams, which specialists to visit, and grounds for being denied a certificate, read more here.