Health Ministry opens Door to Medical Co-pays

    The Kazakh Health Ministry has begun polling citizens on its website about possible co-pays for medical services in state hospitals, news media reported October 11.
    The topic was raised at the ministry’s Public Council on protecting patients’ rights, and later the ministry decided to ask Kazakhs for their opinion on co-pays, the ministry’s press-secretary told KazTag.
    The idea arose after the ministry studied European healthcare systems, news media reported. As it is, many patients end up paying bribes for healthcare, they added.
    Some services, such as ambulance rides, will become pay-for-use options in two years, media said. However the ministry representative told KazTAG the query was posted only to find out the public’s opinion and there are no plans to change anything in the medical services system yet.
    So far, 257 people have voted, and 252 of them voted against the charges, according to Central Asia Online.