Kazakhstan to pay primary care doctors up to 40% bonuses for continuous service

Kazakhstan will introduce bonuses of up to 40% for continuous work experience for primary care doctors. The President announced the measure in his annual address to the nation. The increase will take effect from next year.

According to the Health Ministry, the size of the bonus will depend on length of service. Doctors with more than two years of experience will receive 20%, after three years 30%, and after more than five years 50%. The ministry said the measure aims to retain staff in primary healthcare organisations and rural medical facilities. It said the incomes of more than 77,000 specialists will rise.

Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said such large support measures for primary care workers have been adopted for the first time with the backing of the Head of State. Allowances for psychological and emotional strain for psychologists and social workers are under consideration. Higher payments for infectious disease services and emergency medical workers are already in effect, with about 24,000 infectious disease specialists and 9,000 emergency workers receiving them since the start of the year.