(World Bank: Astana, Kazakhstan) -- The World Bank’s board of executive directors recently approved a US$117.7 million loan for the Kazakhstan Health Sector Technology Transfer and Institutional Reform Project. The project will introduce international standards to the Ministry of Health and related health-care institutions.

The state Health Care Reform and Development Program adopted by Kazakhstan for 2005-2010 sets ambitious goals. To succeed, the reform will require more than simply building new facilities and buying modern equipment. The new project will promote an increase in the level of technical and managerial expertise in Kazakhstan health sector, along with bringing in international experience, expertise, and standards to complex areas such as reforms in health-care financing, health-care quality improvement, medical education, and health information systems.

“This project is not only necessary for the health sector but is also an important step forward in the government’s overall program of public administration and public financial management reform,” says Sergei Shatalov, World Bank country manager for Kazakhstan.

The project has seven main components: health financing and management, health care quality improvement, reform of medical education and medical science, health information system development, pharmaceutical policy reform, food safety and World Trade Organization accession, and project management.

Project leaders hope to upgrade overall health care in Kazakhstan by supporting the development of an independent accreditation system with formal standards, trained staff, and trained assessors; increasing the development and dissemination of clinical practice guidelines; and introducing international standards.

“A better health system will improve competitiveness by reducing illness-related productivity losses and protecting people from the financial consequences of ill-health,” says Shatalov.

Programs implemented during the past 10 years have moved slowly. High rates of tuberculosis; high indicators of infant, child, and adult mortality; and cancer, tobacco and alcohol-related diseases represent major challenges to Kazakhstan’s current health system. However, with rising incomes and help from the World Bank, Kazakhstan’s health-care sector is finally poised to enter a new era.

For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.kz/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/KAZAKHSTANEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21614452~menuPK:361888~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:361869,00.html