Received: 25.05.2026
Accepted: 26.05.2026
Published online: 17.06.2026
UDC: 615.1:338.45(574):614.2
DOI: 10.53511/pharmkaz.2026.3.9
KAZAKHSTAN’S PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL INDUSTRIES: CHALLENGES AND
PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AMID HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
TRANSFORMATION
Denis V. Panchenko¹,³, Fatima M. Smagulova², Saltanat A. Mamyrbekova³
¹ SMPE “Center for HIV Infection Prevention” of the Akimat of Astana, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
² SI “Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
³ NJSC “Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University”, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
Introduction. In the context of global transformations and ongoing healthcare system reforms, the pharmaceutical and medical industry is gaining strategic importance as a key determinant of drug security and sustainable socio-economic development. The Republic of Kazakhstan is characterized by a high level of import dependence despite the industry’s growth potential, which necessitates a systematic analysis and the development of an effective development model.
Objective. To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the pharmaceutical and medical industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to identify key directions for its sustainable development in the context of healthcare system transformation.
Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of secondary data for the period 2020–2025 and employs system-based, comparative, statistical-economic, and regulatory analysis methods, as well as a synthesis of international experience in pharmaceutical industry development.
Results and conclusions. The industry demonstrates an overall positive trend, reflected in the growth of production volumes (according to operational data, KZT 191.1 billion in 2025, an increase of 8.7%) and a 1.56-fold increase in foreign direct investment inflows (USD 142.8 million in 2025). At the same time, the industry’s development is characterized by the emergence of a limited growth model, in which increasing production indicators coexist with persistently high import dependence (up to 85%), insufficient depth of localization, and limited development of research
and development capacity. The contribution of the study lies in the comprehensive assessment of the industry as an integrated system, the substantiation of the role of the cluster approach in ensuring its sustainable development, and the interpretation of industry development through the model of limited growth. The findings demonstrate that sustainable development of the industry requires a transition to a comprehensive model based on the integration of industrial, scientific and technological, and regulatory policies.
Keywords: pharmaceutical industry, medical industry, sustainable development, healthcare, import substitution, drug security.
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