Article · Bulletin of Turan University · October 2, 2026

Improvement of the human resource management system of healthcare in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Е.Б. Жангазинов, А.К. Байтелиева

Abstract

The article examines the problems of medical workforce management in the healthcare system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This issue has remained relevant for many years. Despite government programs and ongoing reforms, the shortage of healthcare professionals persists. The situation varies across regions. Some regions face a greater shortage of specialists, while in others the staffing situation is better. The difference between urban and rural areas is particularly noticeable. Another problem is related to the age of healthcare workers. The number of older physicians is gradually increasing, and in the coming years some of them will need to be replaced by younger specialists. The purpose of the study is to identify the main problems of medical workforce management and propose measures that can be used to address them. The results of the study show that the need for healthcare professionals is not always planned several years in advance. The overall workforce shortage is gradually decreasing, but shortages of certain specialists in the regions still persist. The scientific novelty of the study lies in examining the workforce situation separately across regions and taking into account the need for specific specialists. The overall number of healthcare workers alone is not sufficient for this purpose. It is important to consider which specialists are needed in a particular region, how long vacancies remain unfilled, and why healthcare workers leave their jobs. As a result, workforce decisions can be made based on the actual situation in a particular region rather than only on general indicators for the healthcare system. The practical significance of the study is that the proposed measures can be used by government authorities and healthcare organizations to determine the need for specialists, plan workforce management activities, and develop measures to attract and retain healthcare professionals in the regions.

Global Health Workforce IssuesHealthcare Systems and PracticesHealthcare Systems and Challengeshealthcare workforce managementmedical workforce shortagephysician retention

Improvement of the human resource management system of healthcare in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

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