In the second quarter of this year, household healthcare spending in Kazakhstan averaged 28.8 thousand tenge per household, 6.6% less than in the same period of 2024.

The main share of expenditures went to medicines, medical equipment, and devices: 13.3 thousand tenge per household per quarter—almost the same as a year earlier (down 0.9%). Of this amount, households spent 12.1 thousand tenge on pharmaceutical products, 913 tenge on medical equipment and devices, and 300 tenge on other medical goods.

By region, the highest spending on medicines, equipment, and devices was recorded in Karaganda Region: 18.4 thousand tenge per household, 0.2% less than a year earlier. North Kazakhstan Region (16.7 thousand tenge) and Almaty (16 thousand tenge) ranked second and third. The lowest spending in this segment was observed in Zhetysu Region (7 thousand tenge), West Kazakhstan Region (8.6 thousand tenge), and Mangystau Region (9.8 thousand tenge).

How did pharmaceutical prices change? As of August this year, they rose by 1.5% month-on-month and by 9.9% year-on-year.

Among the medicines regularly monitored by the Bureau of National statistics of Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the sharpest monthly increases were recorded for activated charcoal (up 10.7%), acetylsalicylic acid (up 4.1%), No-Spa (up 4%), Canephron N (up 3.8%), Corvalol (up 3.3%), Aqualor Forte (up 2.5%), and Smecta (up 1.6%). Not all drugs rose in price, however: Fenistil New dropped by 0.1%, Flemoxin Solutab by 0.3%, Suprastin by 0.4%, Rennie by 0.8%, and Aciclovir by 1.5%.

On an annual basis, the steepest increases were observed for Corvalol (up 29.8%), Canephron N (up 28.1%), activated charcoal (up 24.6%), acetylsalicylic acid (up 20.8%), Aciclovir (up 17%), Suprastin (up 15.1%), and Enap (up 13%). The only drug to decline in price year-on-year was Nurofen, which fell by 0.7%.

As for sector output, in January–August of this year, the production of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations in Kazakhstan amounted to 121.3 billion tenge, up 5.7% in value terms compared to the previous year. Within this, the output of pharmaceutical preparations and medical supplies rose by 6% to 116.9 billion tenge, while the production of basic pharmaceutical products declined slightly by 0.1% to 4.4 billion tenge.

Regionally, the largest share of output came from Shymkent, at 45.6 billion tenge, representing year-on-year growth of 10.6%. Almaty Region (28.8 billion tenge, up 4.2%) and Karaganda Region (22.7 billion tenge, up 1.2%) also ranked among the top three. Rounding out the top five producers were Almaty (16.1 billion tenge, up 1.3%) and Aktobe Region (2.8 billion tenge, up 24.6%).

Now turning to imports. In January–July of this year, Kazakhstan imported 17.8 thousand tons of medicines worth 1.2 billion US dollars—significantly less than in the same period of 2024. The decline amounted to 18.6% in volume terms and 4.7% in value terms.

From CIS countries, 5.4 thousand tons of medicines worth 90.4 million US dollars were imported. Russia accounted for the bulk of these shipments with 4.2 thousand tons. Belarus (569 tons) and Ukraine* (539.2 tons) also ranked among the top three suppliers.

From outside the CIS, Kazakhstan imported 12.4 thousand tons of medicines worth 1.1 billion US dollars. China was the leading supplier, delivering 3.5 thousand tons. India, Germany, France, and Turkey also ranked among the top five exporters.

* Ukraine’s status within the CIS is disputed for a number of reasons.