Kazakhstan's Health Ministry Revives Unannounced Inspections and Digital Vaccine Tracking

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan is reintroducing unannounced inspections of facilities for children and implementing a digital system to monitor vaccine movement.

In recent years, the number of inspections has sharply declined, dropping from 158,000 in 2012 to just 440 in 2025. This reduction weakened the system's ability to predict threats and contributed to outbreaks of infectious diseases. To address this, a new law has come into force, reinstating special state control measures. This includes conducting checks without prior notice at all locations where children are present.

A key tool for ensuring safety will be the large-scale digitalization of the vaccination process. Following a successful pilot in the Karaganda region, a project to automate the "cold chain" will be rolled out nationwide. This system will enable real-time monitoring of temperature conditions for vaccine storage at every level—from central warehouses to rural clinics. To support this initiative, authorities plan to complete the equipping of medical organizations with modern refrigeration equipment.

To prevent unjustified losses and ensure transparency, a unified Immunoprophylaxis Center will be established this year based at the National Center for Public Health.

Furthermore, to eliminate data falsification and monitor the real situation, the Ministry has completed digitizing all forms used for tracking vaccine movement. Full integration of information systems, scheduled for this year, will allow health officials to see the true level of immunization coverage and respond promptly to any gaps in population protection.