Starting May 1, 2025, significant changes will be implemented in the operation of mobile teams at polyclinics across Kazakhstan, according to the Ministry of Health. These adjustments aim to address ongoing complaints regarding long wait times for ambulance services, particularly for non-life-threatening emergencies.
The changes specifically target calls categorized as fourth urgency, which involve medical conditions that are not immediately life-threatening but still require medical attention. This includes situations such as elevated blood pressure, mild injuries, or fever, which do not pose an immediate threat to life.
Under the new guidelines, mobile teams at polyclinics will operate during the same hours as the medical facilities themselves, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. During these hours, calls classified as fourth category will be redirected to primary health care mobile teams. After 8:00 PM and on weekends, all emergency calls, including those of the fourth category, will continue to be handled by traditional ambulance teams.
Statistics reveal that over 50% of ambulance calls pertain to the fourth category of urgency, often linked to exacerbations of chronic illnesses. "We need to acknowledge that these calls divert resources from patients in life-threatening conditions who require immediate assistance," a spokesperson from the Ministry of Health stated. The introduction of these changes is expected to optimize workload, reduce waiting times, and enhance the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
In addition to responding to urgent calls, the mobile primary health care teams will also conduct planned home visits, allowing for timely monitoring of patients' health, particularly those with chronic conditions. The mobile teams are organized at a ratio of one team per 25,000 residents, ensuring adequate coverage across communities.
These teams will operate in the area where the patient resides or is currently located, regardless of their registered healthcare facility. When necessary, mobile teams may be accompanied by specialized professionals, such as pediatricians for children or cardiologists and neurologists for adults, depending on the patient's specific needs and condition severity.
The mechanism for calling an ambulance remains unchanged; citizens can dial 103 at any time to request emergency medical assistance. The Ministry of Health has emphasized that the arrival time for mobile primary health care teams is expected to be within 60 minutes for standard calls. For more urgent categories, the response times are set at 10 minutes for first category calls, 15 minutes for second category calls, and 30 minutes for third category calls.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, ambulance services in Kazakhstan responded to over 2.1 million calls. Of these, 763,463 were classified under the fourth urgency category, with more than 518,000 handled by mobile primary health care teams. Furthermore, there were 104,443 calls categorized as first urgency, 642,312 as second urgency, and 574,580 as third urgency. Notably, the successful resuscitation rate during this period rose to 55.6%, indicating a positive trend in the quality of emergency medical services.
These new regulations are designed to enhance the efficiency of the healthcare system, shorten response times, and improve medical care across all levels. The Ministry assures the public that access to emergency medical services remains available to all who need it.
As Kazakhstan prepares for these changes, the focus remains on ensuring that the healthcare system can provide timely and effective care to all citizens. The adjustments to the operation of mobile teams at polyclinics represent a significant step towards addressing the needs of patients requiring urgent medical attention while optimizing resources for those in critical conditions.
